Chapter 1: The Quest for Planet Nine

On September 8, 2021, a video from NBC News was uploaded to YouTube, sparking renewed interest in the existence of a ninth planet in our solar system. For years, debates have raged about the validity of claims regarding a "tenth" planet. It's noteworthy to mention that Pluto was still considered a planet at that time. The demotion of Pluto was primarily due to disputes over funding for space missions. This highlights the political and financial conflicts that can impact scientific progress, as researchers sometimes focus more on their disagreements than on the calculations at hand. It makes one wonder if the push for the ninth planet is merely a distraction from ongoing discussions about UFOs.

This video feels somewhat dated, as the upload dates on YouTube don’t always align with when the news first aired, leading to a mix-up about what constitutes current news. It's easy to see how individuals might confuse past reports with present happenings. This confusion could serve as the basis for two separate essays: one detailing my own perplexities and another examining how news coverage is becoming increasingly ambiguous.

Interestingly, the same NBC report can be found on Space.com, suggesting it was indeed released recently. However, I found little new information compared to a 2016 article discussing the ninth planet. Notably, the video mentions that one of the scientists involved in Pluto's demotion is also part of the search for this elusive ninth planet, indicating that redemption is possible. Although Pluto's demotion was based on new definitions, it might have been wise to retain its status as a planet since it was the last one discovered through rigorous scientific methods. Many people have come to remember it as a planet, so why complicate matters with semantics?

If a ninth planet exists, it will likely be discovered through advanced mathematical methods, particularly sophisticated computer simulations that factor in the gravitational influences of known celestial bodies. Meanwhile, conflicting opinions persist: a February 2021 article from Live Science claims there is no ninth planet, while National Geographic suggested its existence in August 2021. Are you feeling dizzy yet?

Caltech scientists Mike Brown and Konstantin Batygin have conducted computer modeling that suggests there is only a 0.4% chance that the ninth planet is not real. Those are compelling odds. Yet, it’s intriguing that blurry images of Tic Tac UFOs seem more credible than a planet that has been debated longer than UFOs themselves! A BBC article titled "If the 9th Planet Exists, Why Haven’t We Seen It?" echoes this skepticism. This skepticism parallels the ongoing debate about UFOs.

The Sumerians, long before modern telescopes and calculations, spoke of a ninth planet they named Nibiru. They claimed to have this knowledge from the Gods. Who are we to challenge the divine beings that introduced agriculture to humanity? Ancient astronaut theorists have proposed that these "gods" might have been extraterrestrial visitors. Even Carl Sagan considered the Sumerians to be a potential First Contact culture.

Could the discovery of a ninth planet lend credence to theories about alien life? Would it substantiate Sagan’s notions? How else can we interpret the Sumerians' knowledge of an unseen celestial body?

Is this too far-fetched? We face similar questions regarding the Dogon Tribe, who possess knowledge of astronomical phenomena beyond their apparent capabilities. Robert Templeton, the author of "The Sirius Mystery," elaborates on this intriguing narrative.

Chapter 2: The Challenges of Discovery

The first video, titled "Does Planet 9 Exist?," discusses the ongoing exploration for this elusive celestial body, exploring the scientific theories and debates surrounding its potential existence.

The second video, "PLANET 9 - Scientists say it's there!," presents insights from scientists who argue for the existence of Planet Nine, delving into the data and models that support their claims.

I don’t envy the scientists on this quest. It's disheartening to observe their disagreements. Currently, we’re discovering planets at an astonishing rate, including rogue planets—those that drift through the cosmos alone. The universe teems with fascinating phenomena waiting to be uncovered, such as Oumuamua, which recently passed by us.

Wouldn’t it be fascinating if, shortly after the ninth planet's confirmation, the U.S. government acknowledged the existence of UFOs as extraterrestrial? Perhaps we might even stumble upon a Fifth Element—or a sequel!