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Robert Finch

Publications and source records attributed to Robert Finch.

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The Mass, Orbit and Location of Planet Nine Derived from Classical Astrophysics

Our models are based on the planet's presumed influence on the orbits of 12 TNOs: the original 6 analyzed by the CalTech astronomers and an additional 6 selected by the authors using similar although broader criteria. An additional goal of our approach is to make the rationale behind each claim regarding Planet X mathematically visible and verifiable to readers, who can use the models for further analysis with their own TNO data sets should they choose, which is rarely an option with simulations. Using the math models described herein we found that each orbit of the 12 asteroids (12As) lies close to the same plane, presumably the planet's orbital plane. This geometric near-symmetry was found to uniquely determine the planet's orbital elements longitude of the ascending node at +107.7 degree and inclination of +19.5 degree. The planet's argument of perihelion is 307.5 degree. The planet's off axis Lagrange points L4 and L5 were found to play a key role in producing this cluster. At least 4 and possibly 5 of the 12As appear to be in mean motion resonance with the planet, which led to an estimate of the orbit's semi major axis length of a 510 AU and a period of 11512 years. The eccentricity for the planet is 0.39 implying a perihelion of 311 AU. The estimation for the planet's location looks like this: the first two locations estimated to be in the lower region of Taurus, the latter in the upper region of Libra. A wide orbital ellipse that completely surrounds half the asteroids' orbits nearest to their perihelia. The estimated planet's mass is 7.1 Earth masses.

astro-ph.EP

The Orbit of Planet Nine Derived from Engineering Physics

Several papers have recently suggested the possible presence of a ninth planet (Planet X) that might explain the gravitational perturbations of a number of detached Trans-Neptunian objects. To analyze the possibility further, we have applied celestial mechanics, engineering physics and statistical analysis to develop improved estimates of the planet's primary orbital elements and mass from first engineering principles, using the orbital characteristics of both the original group of 6 objects analyzed and also a second group comprising the original 6 together with 6 additional long-period asteroids selected by the authors. We show that the driving force behind the observed clustering is gravitational torque that arranges the orbits of asteroids in a systematic, orderly manner, and we develop the associated equations of motion. As evidence we show that the expected effects are fully apparent in the orbital characteristics of the correlated bodies involved, including most strikingly regarding their orbital planes, azimuth orientations and specific relative angular momenta, which we show generates a highly unexpected form of resonance in their relative angular momenta. We further show that the coordinates of Planet 9's orbit are close to the original values proposed recently by other authors, although we prove that its period has to be dramatically smaller than that proposed in recent literature by Batygin and Brown, 2019, at about 3500 yrs, the eccentricity is near 0.65, and its mass approximately 8.4 times the Earth's mass. Given the predicted orbit we show that the planet has apparently created numerous mean motion resonances, of which seven are noted specifically. As for a possible observation, Planet X, would range between V=18.9 and 26.1, probably with a magnitude of about 24.8.

astro-ph.EP