Astronomers have just unveiled a sensational discovery—a new frozen celestial body orbiting our Sun, breaking the mold of what we thought we knew about the outer regions of our solar system! Meet 2017 OF201, a minor planet that challenges the size standards of distant objects.

This intriguing planetary newcomer, officially cataloged by the International Astronomical Union on May 21, measures between 290 and 510 miles (470 to 820 kilometers) across. To put it into perspective, if it reaches its upper size limit, it could rival Ceres—the largest asteroid in the belt between Mars and Jupiter, which spans about 592 miles (952 km).

Discovered by a team led by Sihao Cheng from the Institute for Advanced Study, 2017 OF201 was first spotted in historical data, but has recently been recognized as a trans-Neptunian object (TNO). TNOs are celestial bodies that orbit the Sun beyond Neptune, which is already a staggering 30 times further from the Sun than Earth.

What makes 2017 OF201 truly extraordinary is its orbit, reaching an astonishing 838 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun. This distance dwarfs Neptune’s own orbit and earns it the title of an extreme trans-Neptunian object (ETNO), leaving scientists buzzing with theories about unseen gravitational forces shaping our solar system.

This discovery inevitably ties into the ongoing quest for Planet Nine—a potential hidden giant theorized to explain the peculiar clustering of objects in the Kuiper Belt. While this new minor planet may not be the elusive Planet Nine at over six times Earth’s mass and with a colossal orbital period of roughly 7,400 years, it certainly adds intrigue to the possibility.

Recent findings have kept the astronomical community on its toes, as another team identified a slow-moving object thought to be a candidate for Planet Nine, though it was found in an unexpected location.

The identification of 2017 OF201 isn’t just an exciting find; it’s a testament to the vast surprises lurking in the distant, icy realms of our solar system. As we continue to explore these frigid frontiers, who knows what other mysteries await?