Abstract
I SEE that, in the notice which appeared in NATURE announcing the discovery of the new planet, it was suggested that the object might represent the outermost member of the family of planets formed from a portion of the sun drawn out by the attraction of the star the approach of which caused the catastrophic formation of the planetary system; or, as it was put—the new planet might be formed from the tip of Sir James Jeans' cigar. Since then the further particulars of the orbit appear to indicate that it is cometary in character, being eccentric and inclined at a considerable angle to the ecliptic. These two divergencies from the characteristics of the previously known planets, coupled with its great distance, would appear to be better explained by the theory of capture. At least, it may be said that the capture theory deserves consideration. If capture is possible, the new planet might be regarded as the first of a new series. Further, if the capture theory were actually established, by implication it would be probable that the majority of the stars have captured planets.
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DANIELL, G. The New Planet. Nature 125, 746 (1930). https://doi.org/10.1038/125746d0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/125746d0
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