Chapter 204: Non-existent Ninth Planet (2)

Chapter 204 – Non-existent Ninth Planet (2)

America, California Institute of Technology’s Astronomy Department:

Dozens of astronomers and scientific researchers sat in the hall quietly watching Chen Yu’s livestream.

Alongside them, there was an Asian doing professional simultaneous translation.

Meanwhile, Chen Yu’s narration caused everyone in the room to shudder and break out in cold sweat.

They were all astronomers, so they knew more about what Chen Yu talked about than ordinary people. They could also associate much more deeply with his words.

Before the discovery of gravitational waves, Einstein had already concluded that such a thing existed.

When human beings had yet to charge out of the Earth’s atmosphere, the Ancient Greek mathematician Pythagoras had already calculated that the Earth was round.

In the scientific world, some things didn’t need to be seen to prove their existence.

Facts could be speculated.

Take the “ninth planet” Chen Yu mentioned for example. Since last year, the astronomical world had already discovered its anomaly. And with subsequent research, they found this anomaly to be increasingly frightening.

Meanwhile, Chen Yu’s livestream today had allowed all researchers researching this so-called ninth planet to instantly understand…

What the ninth planet’s true identity was…

…

In the depths of the Pacific Ocean, inside the island-building ship’s study, Chen Yu’s narration continued.

“When Uranus was observed, astronomers inferred the existence of Neptune based on Uranus’s irregular orbit. Afterward, Neptune was discovered.

“Most planets in the Solar System are discovered in this way. They expose the existence of each other through gravitational drag.

“So in 2016, people thought that the ninth planet would soon be discovered. However, in the following time, no matter what methods the astronomical society used, nobody was able to locate the existence of this mysterious planet.

“It was as if this celestial body was ‘invisible.’

“By 2019, more and more astronomers have noticed that something was wrong.”

After saying so, Chen Yu flipped through a dozen pages of the journal and showed a set of data to the camera.

“This is the information observed on this celestial body in 2019. One data set shows that this celestial body takes around 30,000 Earth years to make one revolution around the sun. The second set of data speculates that this celestial body wasn’t born in the Solar System.

“Because the Kuiper belt is a remnant after the Solar System’s formation, it is almost impossible for such a large planet to form in it. Therefore, this celestial body is a foreigner. Its existence is also a fact, and there can be no doubting this.

“In that case, here comes the problem…”

Chen Yu straightened his mask, his voice becoming as dull as the deep ocean.

“There is a celestial body that theoretically exists, is 10 times heavier than Earth, and affects countless nearby asteroids, yet why can’t we discover it? Why can’t we see it? Why can’t we touch it? Why can we only detect it through gravity and not optically?

“In October 2019, physicists Jacob Schultz of Durham University and James Enwin of the University of Illinois came up with a bold idea…”

After saying so, Chen Yu turned to the journal’s thirteenth page and showed the monochrome photos of the two researchers. “It’s these two.

“Their guess is that the reason why this celestial body cannot be observed is that it isn’t a planet at all…

“Instead, it is a black hole.”

Boom!

Closing the journal, Chen Yu took a deep breath and faced the camera. “Unfortunately, their conjecture is correct.

“It, is a black hole.”

As soon as Chen Yu’s voice fell, the livestream rooms’ bullet comment sections exploded!

[Nani?!]

[Stop joking around…]

[You’re telling me there’s a goddamned black hole in the Solar System?]

[My world view…]

[Impossible!]

[Impossible!]

[Clickbait over.]

[Mr. Lu once said: When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.][1]

[Are you damned sure Mr. Lu said that?]

[I think Alexander the Great said it.]

[It is clearly Taishang Laojun.]

[Nonsense! Pan Jinlian said it!]

[Dammit! Are you guys not afraid at all?! A black hole! That’s a black hole!!]

[A white hole. A white tomorrow is waiting for us…]

[I’m going to seek refuge in the countryside.]

After a brief commotion, the bullet comment sections fell silent once more.

Chen Yu also fell silent as he waited for his seven million viewers to digest this bad news.

A minute later, he flipped to the middle part of the journal and continued, “According to the latest research report in 2033, this is a primordial black hole. Its actual mass is 125 times that of Earth, but its size is smaller than a football.

“It is speculated that this black hole has existed in the Solar System for at least one billion years.

“Hearing this, many among the audience might feel relieved thinking that since this black hole has existed for over a billion years without causing us any harm, it is unlikely to do so in the near future either. Unfortunately, the truth is the exact opposite. After revolving around the sun for over a billion years, this black hole has moved a lot more closer to the sun.

“In some research reports made in 2019, it is speculated that 100,000 years ago, this celestial body still took 40,000 years to revolve around the sun once. Now, it only needs 30,000 years. At that time, people still couldn’t understand why such a strange orbital change had occurred.

“However, everything makes sense if it is a black hole.”

Raising three fingers, Chen Yu said, “Three hundred thousand years. In just 300,000 years, this black hole will appear right in front of us.

“This length of time is indeed very long. Most people in front of the screen might not care about this, but you’ve overlooked one point. There are many, many celestial bodies existing in the Solar System…”

Amidst the new flood of bullet comments, Chen Yu flipped to the second half of the journal and hastened his speech.

“According to speculation, in 12,000 years, the black hole will collide with an asteroid named 2018 VG14, and the resulting fluctuations will sweep the entire Solar System.

“In 6,400 years, under the black hole’s gravitational drag, Sedna’s orbit will continue to deviate, resulting in a series of complex chain reactions. At that time, Earth’s orbital angle will definitely be affected, resulting in orbital deviation.

“In 700 years, the black hole will only be 320 astronomical units from the sun, the closest it will ever be in its current revolution.

“In 25 years, the asteroid 2034 VG22 ‘Gisella’ will brush shoulders with the black hole. According to computer analysis, the planet will be torn apart by the enormous gravitational force, and its remnants will fly into the Solar System at a 78-degree angle. There is a possibility it will collide with the sun, causing devastating consequences…

“In three months…”

Chen Yu paused his speech momentarily. Looking at the camera, he spoke clearly, “The black hole will be 35 astronomical units away from Jupiter, the closest it will ever be in its 30,000-year revolution. Many near-Earth asteroids will have their orbits changed as a result, and an Amor asteroid named ‘Bell’ will directly collide with Earth.

“In other words, we won’t need to wait 300,000 years, 10,000 years, 6,400 years, or 25 years.”

Standing up, Chen Yu spread out his arms and said, “In just three and a half months, we will get to feel the real threat this black hole brings to us.

“And this is what I call humanity’s Judgment Day.

“Humanity only has three and a half months to deal with this asteroid. Then, within 25 years, we will have to deal with the asteroid named ‘Gisella.’

“Otherwise, even if human civilization doesn’t become history, it will still suffer unbearably severe damage.”

Chen Yu stepped out of the study and had the camera follow after him. He then entered the hall, approached the protective suit’s maintenance pod, and opened the hatch.

“Now, I will let everyone see this black hole with your own eyes. We will confirm its existence 20 years in advance…”