Notunian

Notunian is a hypothetical planet that has been proposed by some astronomers and science fiction writers as a possible ninth planet in our solar system. The name "Notunian" is derived from the Latin word "notus," meaning "southern," as it is hypothesized to exist in the outer reaches of the solar system, beyond the orbit of Neptune.

The concept of Notunian was first suggested in the early 20th century by astronomer Percival Lowell, who also proposed the existence of Planet X. Lowell's search for Planet X was motivated by discrepancies in the orbits of Uranus and Neptune, which he believed could be explained by the gravitational influence of an unknown planet. Although Lowell's search ultimately proved fruitless, the idea of an undiscovered planet in the outer solar system persisted.

In recent years, the hypothesis of Notunian has gained renewed interest due to the discovery of several distant trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) with unusual orbits. Some astronomers have suggested that these objects could be influenced by the gravitational pull of an as-yet-undiscovered planet, which they have dubbed "Planet Nine." While the existence of Notunian or Planet Nine has not been confirmed, the search for this hypothetical planet continues to be an active area of research in astronomy.

In popular culture, Notunian has been featured in various science fiction works, including books, movies, and video games. These depictions often portray Notunian as a mysterious and exotic world, with unique landscapes and alien life forms. However, it is important to note that these portrayals are purely speculative and not based on any scientific evidence. The true nature of Notunian, if it exists at all, remains a subject of ongoing scientific investigation.