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Cited by 36Astro and Planetary ScienceStellar, planetary, and galactic studiesPlanetary Science and Exploration

THE HUNT FOR PLANET NINE: ATMOSPHERE, SPECTRA, EVOLUTION, AND DETECTABILITY

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Fortney, Jonathan J., Marley, Mark S., Laughlin, Gregory, Nettelmann, Nadine, Morley, Caroline V., Lupu, Roxana E., Visscher, Channon, Jeremic, Pavle +2 more·2016·The Astrophysical Journal Letters
DOI 10.3847/2041-8205/824/2/l25
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Abstract

We investigate the physical characteristics of the solar system’s proposed Planet Nine using modeling tools with a heritage of studying Uranus and Neptune. For a range of plausible masses and interior structures, we find upper limits on the intrinsic T eff , from ∼35 to 50 K for masses of 5–20 M ⊕, and we also explore lower T eff values. Possible planetary radii could readily span from 2.7 to 6 R ⊕, depending on the mass fraction of any H/He envelope. Given its cold atmospheric temperatures, the planet encounters significant methane condensation, which dramatically alters the atmosphere away from simple Neptune-like expectations. We find that the atmosphere is strongly depleted in molecular absorption at visible wavelengths, suggesting a Rayleigh scattering atmosphere with a high geometric albedo approaching 0.75. We highlight two diagnostics for the atmosphere’s temperature structure: (1) the value of the methane mixing ratio above the methane cloud and (2) the wavelength at which cloud scattering can be seen, which yields the cloud-top pressure. Surface reflection may be seen if the atmosphere is thin. Due to collision-induced opacity of H 2 in the infrared, the planet would be extremely blue instead of red in the shortest wavelength WISE colors if methane is depleted and would, in some cases, exist on the verge of detectability by WISE. For a range of models, thermal fluxes from ∼3 to 5 μ m are ∼20 orders of magnitude larger than blackbody expectations. We report a search of the AllWISE Source Catalog for Planet Nine, but find no detection.

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  • Modeling by Fortney et al. (2016) suggests that at the inferred heliocentric distance, the planetary H/He envelope will be free of all potential condensibles, rendering the atmosphere an essentially pure Rayleigh scatterer with a V-band albedo of almost unity.

    “The albedo of Planet Nine is unknown, but modeling by Fortney et al. (2016) suggests that at the inferred heliocentric distance, the planetary H / He envelope will be free of all potential condensibles, rendering the atmosphere an essentially pure Rayleigh scatterer with a V-band albedo of almost unity.”

    From The planet nine hypothesis (2019) · cites this paper as Fortney et al. (2016)

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  • Fortney et al. (2016) found that in extreme cases the atmosphere of Planet Nine could be depleted of methane and have order of magnitude more emission in the 3-4 m range.

    “Fortney et al. (2016) found that in extreme cases the atmosphere of Planet Nine could be depleted of methane and have order of magnitude more emission in the 3-4 m range.”

    From The planet nine hypothesis (2019) · cites this paper as Fortney et al. (2016)

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Research works printed but not linked: 7

  1. [4]4. Bromley, B. C., & Kenyon, S. J. 2016, ArXiv e-prints, arXiv:1603.08010 · arXiv
  2. [5]5. Brown, M. E., & Batygin, K. 2016, ArXiv e-prints, arXiv:1603.05712 · arXiv
  3. [17]17. Holman, M. J., & Payne, M. J. 2016, ArXiv e-prints, arXiv:1603.09008 · arXiv
  4. [20]20. Kenyon, S. J., & Bromley, B. C. 2016, ArXiv e-prints, arXiv:1603.08008 · arXiv
  5. [25]25. Malhotra, R., Volk, K., & Wang, X. 2016, ArXiv e-prints, arXiv:1603.02196 · arXiv
  6. [33]33. Mustill, A. J., Raymond, S. N., & Davies, M. B. 2016, MNRAS, arXiv:1603.07247 · arXiv
  7. [35]35. Oklopčić, A., Hirata, C. M., & Heng, K. 2016, ArXiv e-prints, arXiv:1605.07185 · arXiv

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Authors
Fortney, J. J., Marley, M. S., Laughlin, G., Nettelmann, N., Morley, C. V., Lupu, R. E., Visscher, C., Jeremic, P., Khadder, W. G., & Hargrave, M.
Affiliations
  • University of California, Santa Cruz (US)
  • Ames Research Center (US)
  • University of Rostock (DE)
  • Dordt University (US)
Corresponding author
Fortney, Jonathan J.
ORCID
Venue
The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Publisher
American Astronomical Society
Published
2016-06-17
Volume
824
Issue
2
Pages
L25
ISSN
  • 2041-8205 (ISSN-L)
  • 2041-8213
DOI
10.3847/2041-8205/824/2/l25
OpenAlex
W2344743581
Cited by
36
References
33
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 8
FWCI
3.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • The Astrophysical Journal Letters (publishedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
  • Dordt Digital Collections (Dordt College) (submittedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astro and Planetary Science
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Planetary Science and Exploration
Keywords
Planet Nine, trans-Neptunian objects, planetary atmospheres, methane condensation, Rayleigh scattering, geometric albedo, methane mixing ratio, cloud top pressure, thermal radiation, internal structure

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