Expert: Jayendra Upadhye - 12/30/2007

Question
Hello Jayendra,

I read where NASA discovered Planet X in Dec. 1983 with the IRAS telescope. The story was published in 2 or 3 major magazines, then NASA became silent on the issue. Now that seems a little strange to me. I can see that though, as the truth of a Planet X flyby would certainly disrupt financial markets. Then, in the late 80s', the JPL said that the Pioneer spacecraft indicated the perturbations in Neptune's and Pluto's orbits were natural perturbations not related to these planets being influenced by an outside large body in space. There just seems to be a hint of a cover-up here. I also viewed several pictures of Planet X on the internet taken from different folks and amateur photgraphers in various parts of the world, especially in the Southern hemisphere. Some pictures of X appeared near the rising sun, supposedly at times when it would "peek out from hiding", whatever that means. It just doesn't seem like all these photos from different parts of the world could have had a Planet X airbrushed or cropped into them. I've read a lot on the internet about Planet X, most seemed a bit hyped, but some articles seemed to have been researched and comparatively well written. So, I'm still in the dark.

What is your opinion on the existence of Planet X and do you think there is any kind of NASA or government cover-up going on?

With warmest regards,

Mike E.

You may ask for my private email if you wish

Answer
Hi,
Thanks for the email offer.

I generally discount any "conspiracy theory"...simply because ...
1 - it is impossible to fool 1000s of people in this age of information.
2 - Why should UFO s be enamoured of the USA only? (Most sightings reported from there). To them, there would be no difference between a pigmy african and a "white" american!
3 - In the 4.5 billion year existence of the planet earth how come we dont see even 1 shred of fossil evidence of alien artefacts? Even an ancient enclosure or dwelling used by the aliens say 65 million years ago? Or say an object, Like an Stainless (not steel) object embedded in ancient rock? A RAY GUN FOR INSTANCE!!
4 - If you look up this site on wikipedia, it is clear that there is no need of planet x to explain the "so-called" orbital perturbations of the gas giants.
link:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_X

I would like to give you a philosophical "aside"...as i think you are of a philosophical bent of mind and wont think i am launching into a boring lecture...:)

Humans love to see patterns where none exist.
Their brains have been wired to make sense of patterns (that is what our day to day activity is all about! Just crossing a street as an infinitely complex excercise in pattern recognition / processing.
That is how we distinguish "traffic" from individual cars, and "people" from individual men, recognise an individual just by a casual glance at his face!
Or our car from those of others!

We hate absence of information! Positively hate the vacuum!!

So we invent phantoms, Gods , aliens, Conspiracies, and even write good popular fiction ...to keep ourselves enthralled and our minds busy from the "huge" lack of information we have on most topics.

THAT is the ultimate conspiracy  theory!
We need our delusions..to "fill in" the lacunae we know in the deepest parts of our minds, we will never be able to fill, in one lifetime. So this need for GOD! Religion, Politics, TV, operas, Literature...Have you ever thought?

We struggle all life..amass so many pebbles (riches), create progeny and go, all the time "pre-occupying" ourselves with transients, fearing to see the real "lack".

Our lack of knowledge about most things!

So it would be best to ignore conspiracies and place your bets on solid science. (atleast the poor souls "measure" and quantify & try to know things!)

regards
Jayen