Many are still perplexed by the possible existence of the so-called Planet Nine in the solar system, where some say that this mysterious gas giant beyond Neptune's orbit can be affecting the Cassini spacecraft that is currently orbiting Saturn, however, NASA debunks this claim.
NASA confirms that the Cassini spacecraft did not experience any unexplained disturbances during its mission while orbiting around Saturn. Mission scientists say that if Planet Nine's presence is somewhere lurking near the system, then its powerful gravitational forces would have manifested more significantly.
According to planetary scientist in NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, William Folkner, this undiscovered planet outside the orbit of Neptune is estimated to be 10 times the mass of Earth and would most likely affect the orbit of Saturn and not the Cassini probe. He is also part of developing the planetary orbit formations for NASA's high precision navigation in spacecrafts and probes.
In addition, according to Cassini project manager, Earl Maize from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, it would be amazing if Cassini would help detect a new planet inside the solar system, however, there are no recorded perturbations in the orbit which cannot be explained by current models.
Even if Cassini's orbit is not disturbed, some scientists say that Saturn's orbit could potentially be. Some orbital deviations in the solar systems cannot be explained or even linked to the potential presence of this mysterious ninth planet.
Researchers from the Côte d'Azur Observatory altered their solar system model where they placed Planet Nine in various locations of its hypothetical orbit until it can be linked to any orbital disturbance with the planets. Planet Nine is believed to exist some 600 astronomical units or 56 billion miles away in the direction of Cetus, which is the best possible explanation for Saturn's orbit.
NASA also says that another recent scientific paper also predicted that Cassini's data tracking will continue until 2020 which will later reveal the most probable location of Planet Nine hopefully, however, it is expected that Cassini will run on low fuel at this time, which will take its final death plunge into Saturn's atmosphere by the end of 2017.
If the findings of the recent study by the Côte d'Azur Observatory are proven to be true, this new planet can be detected by the Dark Energy Survey or even be identified via its light emissions from its core heat.