Astronomers have spotted a new dwarf planet named 2012 VP113, the discovery of which extends the edge of the known Solar System. 2012 VP113 is likely to be just one of the thousands of objects that make up the ‘inner Oort cloud’ – a region of icy bodies far from the Sun where comets might originate.

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Additionally, their work indicates that a giant planet, 10 times the size of Earth, might also be present somewhere in the dark reaches of the Solar System. The planet’s gravitational pull would influence the orbit of 2012 VP113 and other inner Oort cloud objects.

The findings are published in the March 27 edition of the journal Nature.