New Britain herald., 1930-04-24
Astronomer Describes Planet X
 In Simple Language for Laymen

Tucson, Ariz.. April 24 Pl-A dc. scription of planet "X' heralded as the ninth planetary member of the solar system, in which the recently discovered astronomical body wa: said to be about the size of the earth, and to require 5,eoo years tc complete q circuit of its orbit, toda, was available to the public for the first time.
 pr. E. C. Slipher, Lowell observa- | tory astronomer, one of those direct ly connected with the recent discov- cry of the ns-Neptunian body explained the secrets of the planet in layman's language after describ- ing it to delegates of the eleventh annual convention of the southwest ern section of the American Associa- ton for Advancement of Science.
 Dr. Slipher is the brother of Dr. V. M. Slipher, director of Lowell observatory where, under pro- visions in the will of the late pr Fercival Lowell, it's founder, spe- cialized study of the long suspected trans-Neptunian object has been carried on. Dr. Lowell Is years age predicted the presence of an extra. Neptune planet three degrees from the point at which the planet va. located.
 Lists Facts
 Here are the chief known fact! concerning the astronomical body as presented by pr. Slipher:
 Distance from the earth 4 astro nomical units or one billion thre, hundred and thirty-fve million miles.
 Mass-known to be smaller thar at first believed, but not computed Tentatively believed about thu same as the earth.
 Orbit-elliptical, it's plane inclined 10 that of the other major planets a, about 51 degrees 21 minutes.
 Size of orbit - long diametel roughly 4S3 astronomical units o 43S times thirty-thr million miles
 Time required for complete cir suit Of orbit-S,2O0 years.
 Length of time to remain In view of earth-probably century more
 Time 1t will then remain hidden roughly three thousand years.
 Photographic characteristics - sharp definition under all circum stances
 "Not Comet"
 'In our minds" said Dt. Slipher referring to recent articles in scien tific publications, I've are quite con rinced that this is 8 planetary ob iect quite distinct from a comet ol an asteroid.
 Tt is the most distant object evel observed in our solar system. Mind you. I say our solar system, for every night we observe stars in a stellar system outside our own.
 Long photograpMne exposure. have been made to test the possi. bility of it's being of cometary ma. ture. Were it of cometary nature these exposures would have become l hay. No difference could he noted between long and short exposures It remained bright and sharply de- fined planetary.
 "The only reason for suggestions that the new body might be comet, ary is to be found In the elliptica orbit apparently like the orbits VIC get from comets,
 The astronomer explained further in reference to both comets and as. teroids that observation of planet "N'' has now been of long enough duration, with great enough clarity to demonstrate that were all the asteroids. or minor planetary bodies and all the comets in the knowr heavens to be rolled Into one mass compressed to the density of the earth and paced in the position oi planet 'N' the resultant body would rot be as bright.
 Mars at that distance" he said would be a point Of light. Saturn at that distance could not be rec ognized."
 'I don't want to be critical of our critics Dr. Slipher concluded, Out [ think these things should be said I know I have not answered many questions, We arc not in possession of all tho facts as yet to answer many questions that we would like to find the answer to ourselves