The Hunt for Planet 9: A New Discovery or the Mythical Nibiru?

In April 2025, astronomers ignited fresh excitement in the scientific community with a tantalizing clue about the elusive Planet 9. Using archival infrared data from sky surveys conducted in 1983 (IRAS) and 2006 (AKARI), a team from Taiwan, Japan, and Australia identified 13 pairs of moving dots in the sky. These faint signals could indicate a Neptune-sized planet orbiting 700 times farther from the Sun than Earth, with an orbital period stretching between 10,000 and 20,000 years. Published in the Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia (awaiting peer review), this discovery has reignited debates about a hidden giant in our solar system—and even sparked speculation about ancient myths, including the controversial idea of Nibiru, the supposed planet of the Anunnaki.

The Science Behind Planet 9

The concept of Planet 9 first emerged in 2014 when astronomers Scott Sheppard and Chadwick Trujillo noticed unusual clustering of icy objects in the Kuiper Belt, a region beyond Neptune filled with rocky debris. In 2016, Mike Brown and Konstantin Batygin bolstered the hypothesis, suggesting a massive, unseen planet—roughly 5 to 10 times Earth’s mass—was gravitationally herding these objects into peculiar orbits. Their calculations pointed to a distant world on an elliptical path, far beyond Pluto.

The recent study adds fuel to the fire. By analyzing decades-old infrared data, researchers spotted what could be a large, slow-moving object. However, the candidate’s orbit doesn’t perfectly match Brown and Batygin’s predictions, prompting Brown to jokingly call it “Planet 8.5.” Skeptics, including Brown himself, caution that the faint infrared signals might be noise, asteroids, or other celestial phenomena. The data’s low resolution and the study’s pre-peer-review status mean it’s far from conclusive.

Hope lies on the horizon, though. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, set to begin operations in 2025, and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope could soon provide high-resolution images of the outer solar system. Experts estimate a 70–80% chance of detecting Planet 9 within the next few years if it exists. For now, the scientific community urges patience, emphasizing that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

Nibiru and the Anunnaki: Myth or Reality?

The buzz around Planet 9 has inevitably revived discussions about Nibiru, a mythical planet rooted in ancient Mesopotamian texts and popularized by fringe theories. In the 1970s, author Zecharia Sitchin proposed that Nibiru was a rogue planet on a 3,600-year orbit, home to the Anunnaki—extraterrestrial beings who, according to Sitchin, visited Earth and influenced human civilization. These ideas, while captivating, are widely dismissed by scholars, as Sitchin’s translations of Sumerian texts are considered inaccurate and his astronomical claims lack evidence.

Could the new Planet 9 candidate be Nibiru? Scientifically, the answer is a resounding no. The proposed Planet 9 is far too distant—hundreds of astronomical units from the Sun—to interact with Earth in the catastrophic ways Nibiru is often described (e.g., causing apocalyptic events). Its 10,000–20,000-year orbit also contradicts Sitchin’s 3,600-year cycle. Moreover, infrared data suggests a cold, gaseous giant, not a habitable world hosting advanced beings. Posts on X reflect this divide, with some users excitedly linking the discovery to Nibiru, while others dismiss it as pseudoscience, citing the lack of credible evidence.

Still, the Nibiru myth taps into humanity’s fascination with the unknown. The idea of a hidden planet tied to ancient lore resonates with those who seek connections between modern science and ancient stories. While Planet 9’s discovery wouldn’t validate Sitchin’s claims, it could inspire new cultural narratives about our place in the cosmos.

The Road Ahead

The search for Planet 9 is a testament to the persistence of human curiosity. Whether the infrared dots prove to be a planet, a quirk of data, or something else entirely, the effort is pushing the boundaries of astronomy. Upcoming telescopes promise to shed light on the outer solar system, potentially rewriting textbooks if a new planet is confirmed.

As for Nibiru and the Anunnaki, they remain compelling stories without scientific backing. The real Planet 9, if it exists, is likely a distant, icy world with no connection to ancient aliens. Yet the interplay between science and myth reminds us how discoveries can spark wonder, even across wildly different perspectives.

What do you think—could Planet 9 be out there, waiting to be found? Or is it just a cosmic mirage?