A new planet-sized object has just been discovered way out beyond Pluto, and it might change everything we thought we knew about the edge of our solar system. Nicknamed “Ammonite,” this mysterious object is not just far — it’s in a whole new category. Its strange orbit has scientists rethinking the idea of a hidden Planet 9 and even the history of our solar system.
Let’s break down what makes this discovery so exciting.
Table of Contents
Discovery
The object, officially named 2023 KQ14 but called “Ammonite” for now, was spotted by a group of Japanese scientists from the National Astronomical Observatory. Using a giant telescope called Subaru, located on top of Mauna Kea in Hawaii, they were able to detect this faint and distant traveler.
Later, in July 2024, other scientists from Canada used the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope to track its movement and better understand where it’s going. That’s when they confirmed it’s part of a very rare group of objects known as sednoids.
Sednoids
So, what exactly is a sednoid?
Sednoids are space objects with very stretched-out orbits — imagine ovals instead of circles — and they never come closer to the Sun than Neptune does. That makes them extremely hard to find. The most famous one is Sedna, and now Ammonite joins this small, mysterious club.
What makes Ammonite especially interesting is how different its orbit is compared to other sednoids. And that has big implications.
Orbit
Ammonite doesn’t follow the same path as other sednoids. Its orbit is tilted and strange, not lining up with what scientists expected. This detail matters because it challenges the current theories about a possible Planet 9.
Many scientists believed that the reason sednoids follow similar orbits is because something massive — like a hidden giant planet — was tugging on them with its gravity. That theory is known as the Planet 9 theory.
But now, Ammonite’s odd orbit throws a wrench into that idea.
Planet9
Does this mean Planet 9 doesn’t exist?
Maybe. Or maybe it means something else happened. Some experts now think that if there was ever a giant planet at the edge of our solar system, it might have been thrown out into space long ago. That could explain why objects like Ammonite are orbiting in unexpected directions.
Basically, Ammonite might be a clue that something big and wild happened a long time ago in the early days of our solar system.
Past
One scientist, Dr. Fumi Yoshida from the Chiba Institute of Technology, explained that finding objects like Ammonite helps us understand strange things that occurred billions of years ago. During that time, the solar system was still forming, and massive collisions and shifts were happening all over.
Objects with long, far-away orbits like Ammonite might be leftovers from that chaotic period.
Naming
Right now, “Ammonite” is just a nickname. The real name — 2023 KQ14 — doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is the group that officially names new celestial objects, and they’re currently reviewing it.
Until then, the nickname sticks. And honestly, it fits — like the ancient sea creature, Ammonite seems like a fossil from the deep past of our solar system, slowly floating through the unknown.
Wonder
This discovery is another reminder of how little we truly know about the far edges of space. Every time we think we’ve mapped out our solar system, a new object like Ammonite shows up to challenge our understanding.
Who knows how many other hidden worlds are still out there, waiting to be found? With new technology and powerful telescopes, scientists are just getting started.
FAQs
What is Ammonite?
A distant, planet-sized object beyond Pluto, also known as 2023 KQ14.
How was Ammonite discovered?
It was found using the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii in 2023.
Is Ammonite a planet?
No, it’s a sednoid — a rare kind of distant space object.
Does Ammonite prove Planet 9 exists?
No, its strange orbit actually makes Planet 9 less likely.
Will Ammonite get a real name?
Yes, the International Astronomical Union will name it soon.
