ASTRONOMERS are confused by the recent discovery of a mystery object orbiting around the sun backwards.
Located in the outer solar system past Neptune, the object was spotted by the Pan-STARRS telescope and has been moving in an opposite direction to the rest of the planets.
This abnormal celestial behaviour has seen the object dubbed “Niku” — the Chinese adjective for rebellious.
Queens University astronomer Michele Bannister said planetary systems are defined by the flat plane of dust and gas surrounding them, with the angular momentum forcing everything to spin the same direction.
“It’s the same thing with a spinning top, every particle is spinning the same direction,”
she toldNew Scientist.
So the fact the object is moving in the opposite direction to the rest of the planets has Ms Bannister puzzled.
“It’s wonderful that it’s so confusing,” she said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what the theoretical analysts do once they get their hands on this one.”
