• Full Refereed Journal Article (PDF/Postscript)
• Full Refereed Scanned Article (GIF)

The Planet X that Harrison was seeking was a small planet to account for the perturbations in the orbits of Neptune and Uranis... a body that would be WITHIN OUR SOLAR SYATEM already as these perturbations have been observed since Lowell in 1930

This is NOT the same as Nibiru... though it is used as proof that Robert Harrington was searching for Nibiru. The confusion between Nibiru and Planet X (meaning Planet 10 in the minds of Lowell and other astronomers) seems deliberate or ignorant at best. Besides does not Sitchen say Nibiru is the 12th Planet? Would that not be Planet XII?

Title: Search for planet X
Authors: Harrington, Robert S.
Affiliation: AA(Naval Observatory, Washington, DC.)

Publication: 
 In NASA, Washington, Reports of Planetary Astronomy, 1991 p 53 (SEE N92-12792 03-89)

Publication Date: 10/1991
Category: Astronomy
Origin: STI
Bibliographic Code: 1991plas.rept...53H

NASA/STI Keywords: 
 PERTURBATION, SKY SURVEYS (ASTRONOMY), SOLAR ORBITS, SPACE OBSERVATIONS (FROM EARTH), NEPTUNE (PLANET), URANUS (PLANET)

Abstract

The observation of the region of the sky in which it is believed Planet X should now be, based on perturbations observed in the motions of Uranus and Neptune, was determined, and there was no reason to update that determination. A limited area of that region was photographed, and that will be continued. A given area is photographed with the twin 20 cm astrograph in New Zealand on two successive nights near the time that area is in opposition, and these plates are blinked in Washington to identify anything that has moved. The predicted region is in the south, which requires observations from a southern station, and it is in opposition in the April to June period, which means observations have not yet started for the year. Blinking will be done as soon as the plates are received in Washington.

Document ID:  NTRS 19920003598

• NTRS: Search for Planet X 19920003598

Considerations on the stability of the solar system led Bob to collaborate with T.C. Van Flandern in studies of the dynamical evolution of its satellites, and to an eventual search for "Planet X", conjectured to lie beyond Pluto and to be responsible for small, unexplained, residuals in the orbits of Uranus and Neptune. Late in his career Bob seemed quite skeptical of such an object, however. Nevertheless, the program instituted at Flagstaff to photograph the outer planets and their satellites led to the spectacular discovery in 1978, by J.W. Christy, of Pluto's satellite. Bob's inspired guess that the period of revolution matched the already known period of light variation resulted in rapid determination of the orbital elements, and hence the mass of both planet and satellite.

He served as a joint editor of four books, was a member of the AAS, the IAU (where he served on four commissions), the Planetary Society, and the Society of Sigma Xi. He also served on the astrometry team for the International Halley Watch, and on the local organizing committee for the 20th General Assembly of the IAU.

Robert (Bob) Harrington died on Jan. 23, 1993 after a short, but determined, battle against esophageal cancer. He left his wife, Betty, two daughters, a sister, and his parents.

http://ad.usno.navy.mil/wds/history/harrington.html

Part 3 1972
Harrington, Robert S. And Mintz, Betty F.
Positions Of Bright Minor Planets.

Part 6 1974
Josties, F. J., Dahn, C. C., Kallarakal, V. V., Miranian, M.,
Douglass, G.G., Christy, J. W., Behall, A. L., And Harrington, R. S.
Photographic Measures Of Double Stars.

Part 1 1975
Harrington, R. S., Dahn, C. C., Behall, A. L., Priser, J. B., Christy, J. W.,
Riepe, B. Y., Ables, H. D., Guetter, H. H., Hewitt, A. V., And Walker, R.L.
Third Catalog Of Trigonometric Parallaxes Of Faint Stars.

Part 3 1976
Dahn, C. C., Harrington, R. S., Riepe, B. Y., Christy, J. W., Guetter, H. H.,
Behall, A. L., Walker, R. L., Hewitt, A. V., And Ables, H. D.
Fourth Catalog Of Trigonometric Parallaxes Of Faint Stars.

Part 4 1978
Harrington, R. S., Dahn, C. C., Miranian, M., Riepe, B. Y., Christy, J. W.,
Guetter, H. H., Ables, H. D., Hewitt, A. V., Vrba, F. J., And Walker, R.L.
Fifth Catalog Of Trigonometric Parallaxes Of Faint Stars.

http://ad.usno.navy.mil/pub/pub_publications.html

Dr. Robert S. Harrington was an astronomer with the United States Naval Observatory. He had multiple theories on Planet X over the years including The Location of Planet X 1988 and The Search for Planet X 1991. He based his theories on the movements of the outer planets and a possible  influence from an unknown body in the solar system.

These published and publicly available papers by the Naval Observatory astronomer are even referred to by some Planet X proponents as "NASA internal documents"!

Oddly, it is his death that the Planet X crowd refer to more often than his theories. This seems to stem from a white paper written by Neil Freer titled The Alien Question: An Expanded Perspective.

In this white paper Freer wrote:

"It is interesting that Harrington dispatched an appropriate telescope to Black Birch, New Zealand to get a visual confirmation, based on the data leading to the expectation that it would be below the ecliptic in the southern skies at this point in its orbit.  On Harrington’s early death the scope was immediately called back --- as one observer noted, “almost before he was cold”. "

Neil Freer is an English professor who has written several books about the works of Zecharia Sitchin.

Zetatalk takes this a step further saying:

"A Phil Schneider assassination is evident, as is the death of Robert Harrington".

Zetatalk Cover-Up

In Blindsided, Mark Hazlewood says:

"What obvious message do you think was sent to Stitchin, Van Flandern and anyone else in the know, when Harrington suddenly met with an early death at the same time the scope was being pulled back? Sometimes an
early death is meant to accomplish more than just keeping one person quiet. "

Yes, more conspiracy theory on the cover-up of Planet X. The easy explanation why no astronomer or scientist will support the silly Zeta planet.

Zetatalk recently added a new page on Harrington with a rambling conspiracy theory and the usual reference of "his cohorts sang whatever tune the CIA wanted" to justify why astronomers no longer feel that a Planet X exists.

ZetaTalk: Harrington

The truth of the matter is that Robert Harrington died January  23, 1993 of esophageal cancer. Nothing mysterious or sinister about this. There is also no evidence of a telescope being dispatched to Black Birch, New
Zealand. The United States Naval Observatory already had an observatory at Black Birch.

In his book Genesis Revisited, Sitchin says:

"On January 16, 1990, Dr. Harrington reported at the American Astronomical Society meeting in Arlington, Virginia, that the U.S. Naval Observatory team has narrowed its search for the tenth planet to the southern skies and has announced the dispatch of a team of astronomers to the Black Birch Astronomic Observatory in New Zealand."

Note: this was 3 years before Harrington's death.

Harrington in his 1991 paper The Search for Planet X wrote about the search already being underway and it would continue from New Zealand.

Why New Zealand? Harrington's latest calculations showed that if Planet X existed it would be in the region of Centaurus and Hydra, a region which is too far south for Tombaugh to have searched in the 1930s. This is also NOT the location of the Zeta Planet X.  Not even close.

Are we looking at dishonesty here? Or simply more poor research? That is difficult to say. What is obvious is that the Planet X crowd does like to take the truth and twist it to suit their needs. 

SOURCE: http://www.planet-x.150m.com/harrington.html

Title: On the problem of the search for Planet X based on its perturbation of the outer planets
Authors: Gomes, R. S.
Affiliation: AA(Observatorio Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Publication: Icarus (ISSN 0019-1035), vol. 80, Aug. 1989, p. 334-343. (Icarus Homepage)
Publication Date: 08/1989
Category: Astronomy; Planets
Origin: STI; LPI [AN-891460%J]

NASA/STI Keywords: 
 ORBITAL MECHANICS, PERTURBATION THEORY, PLANETS, ASTRONOMICAL MODELS, GRAVITATION THEORY, STELLAR ORBITS

LPI Keywords: 
 PLANETS, GIANT PLANETS, PLANET X, PERTURBATIONS, GRAVITY EFFECTS, ORBITS, PROCEDURE, CALCULATIONS, URANUS, NEPTUNE, THEORETICAL STUDIES, DIAGRAMS, PARAMETERS, ASTRONOMY, CELESTIAL MECHANICS

DOI: 10.1016/0019-1035(89)90144-9
Bibliographic Code: 1989Icar...80..334G

SOURCE: Harvard Abstracts

Also:
On the problem of the search for Planet X based on its perturbation of the outer planets

Document:
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Title: On the problem of the search for Planet X based on its perturbation of the outer planets
Creator/Author:  Gomes, R.S. (Observatorio Nacional, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil))
Publication Date: 1989 Aug 01
OSTI Identifier: OSTI ID: 5474949
Other Number(s): ISSN0019-1035; CODEN: ICRSA
Resource Type: Journal Article
Resource Relation: Icarus ; Vol/Issue: 80

Subject 640107 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena; PLANETS-- COORDINATES; ALBEDO;GRAVITATION;MASS;MATHEMATICAL MODELS;NEPTUNE PLANET;ORBITS;PERTURBATION THEORY;SOLAR SYSTEM;STARS;URANUS PLANET
Related Subject: PLANETS

Description/Abstract:
The present consideration of the systematic residuals which emerge when Uranus and Neptune observations are compared to their theories will proceed from the supposition that these discrepancies are due to an unknown `planet X`.^An effort is accordingly made to ascertain the ideal region, rather than a specific position or positions, in which the existence of such a planet will account for the systematic residuals.^The problematic relationship of the probable albedo of a planet X to the mass it must possess, in view of the present calculations, is assessed.^5 refs.
Country of Publication: United States
Language: English
Format Pages: 334-343
System Entry Date: 2001 May 13

SOURCE: OSTI.GOV

Title: A mathematical search for Planet X
Authors: Powell, C.
Affiliation: AA(Teledyne Brown Engineering, Huntsville, AL)
Publication: British Interplanetary Society, Journal (ISSN 0007-084X), vol. 42, July 1989, p. 327-333.
Publication Date: 07/1989
Category: Astronomy; Planets
Origin: STI; LPI [AN-891285%J]

NASA/STI Keywords: 
 CELESTIAL MECHANICS, ORBIT PERTURBATION, PLANETOLOGY, SOLAR SYSTEM, SPACE EXPLORATION, NEPTUNE (PLANET), ORBIT CALCULATION, SOLAR ORBITS, URANUS (PLANET)

LPI Keywords: 
 PLANETS, PLANET X, NUMERICAL METHODS, PERTURBATIONS, ORBITS, SIZE, MASS, EPHEMERIDES, ORBITAL ELEMENTS, BRIGHTNESS, HISTORY, POPULAR, CALCULATIONS, DATA
Bibliographic Code: 1989JBIS...42..327P

Abstract
It is proposed that the systematic residuals in the positions of Uranus and Neptune may be due to an unknown planet: Planet X. Using the weighted-least-squares method, the orbit and mass of Planet X were computed from the residuals of Uranus. It is concluded that, if it exists, Planet X will be the tenth planet. However, it may not be the tenth from the sun since the computed semimajor axis is a little less than Pluto's. Planet X's perihelion, like Pluto's, is inside the orbit of Neptune.

SOURCE: Harvard Abstracts

Title: Planet X and the stability of resonances in the Neptune-Pluto system
Authors: Jackson, A. A.; Killen, R. M.
Affiliation: AA(Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, TX), AB(Rice University, Houston, TX)
Publication: Royal Astronomical Society, Monthly Notices (ISSN 0035-8711), vol. 235, Dec. 1, 1988, p. 593-601. (MNRAS Homepage)
Publication Date: 12/1988
Category: Astronomy
Origin: STI

NASA/STI Keywords: 
NEPTUNE (PLANET), ORBITAL MECHANICS, ORBITAL RESONANCES (CELESTIAL MECHANICS), PLUTO (PLANET), SOLAR ORBITS, LIBRATION, ORBIT CALCULATION, ORBITAL ELEMENTS, PLANETARY MASS

Bibliographic Code: 1988MNRAS.235..593J

Abstract
Four test orbits of a trans-Plutonian planet have been integrated forward for four million years in order to determine the effects of such a body on the stability of the Neptune-Pluto 3:2 resonance. Planets beyond Pluto with masses of 0.1 M and 1.0 Earth masses in orbits at 48.3 and 75.5 AU, respectively, do not disturb the 3:2 resonance. Test planets of 5 Earth masses with semimajor axes of 52.5 and 62.5 AU disrupt the four million year libration of Pluto's argument of perihelion.

SOURCE: Harvard Abstracts

• Full Refereed Journal Article (PDF/Postscript)
• Full Refereed Scanned Article (GIF)

Title: Mass and orbit estimation of Planet X via a family of comets
Authors: Neuhaeuser, R.; Feitzinger, J. V.
Affiliation: AA(Bochum, Ruhr-Universitaet, Federal Republic of Germany), AB(Bochum, Ruhr-Universitaet; Sternwarte, Federal Republic of Germany)
Publication: Earth, Moon, and Planets (ISSN 0167-9295), vol. 54, Sept. 1991, p. 193-202. (EM&P Homepage)
Publication Date: 09/1991
Category: Astronomy
Origin: STI

NASA/STI Keywords: 
COMETS, PLANETARY MASS, PLANETS, SOLAR ORBITS, APHELIONS, BRIGHTNESS, ORBIT CALCULATION, ORBIT PERTURBATION, ORBITAL ELEMENTS, ORBITAL POSITION ESTIMATION

Bibliographic Code: 1991EM&P...54..193N

Abstract
Characteristics of Planet X are developed by examining the aphelion distances and orbital parameters of comets that are assumed to be influenced by the unobserved planet. Planet X's semimajor axis and orbital eccentricity are found by, respectively, averaging the aphelion distances and studying the orbits of certain transplutonic comets. The orbital inclination is also estimated based on the assumed role of Planet X in directing quasi-periodic comet showers toward the inner solar system. The mass of the planet is calculated by extrapolating the density distribution of the primordial solar nebula. A list of assumptions including the cause of planetary perturbations is used to describe the actual location of Planet X including declination and ecliptic longitude as well as the apparent brightness.

SOURCE: Harvard Abstracts

• Full Refereed Journal Article (PDF/Postscript)
• Full Refereed Scanned Article (GIF)

Title: Planet X - Fact or fiction?
Authors: Anderson, John
Affiliation: AA(California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena)
Publication: Planetary Report (ISSN 0736-3680), vol. 8, July-Aug. 1988, p. 6-9.
Publication Date: 08/1988
Category: Astronomy
Origin: STI

NASA/STI Keywords: 
ORBIT PERTURBATION, PLANETARY SYSTEMS, SOLAR SYSTEM, SPACE EXPLORATION, GAS GIANT PLANETS, PIONEER SPACE PROBES, SOLAR ORBITS, TELESCOPES, VOYAGER PROJECT

Bibliographic Code: 1988PlR.....8d...6A

Abstract
The search for a possible tenth planet in our solar system is examined. The history of the discoveries of Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are reviewed. Searches of the sky with telescopes and theoretical studies of the gravitational influences on the orbits of known objects in the solar system are discussed. Information obtained during the Pioneer 10 and 11 missions which could suggest the presence of an undiscovered planet and computer simulations of the possible orbit of a tenth planet are presented.

SOURCE: Harvard Abstracts

• NTRS: Planet X - Fact or fiction 19880061814

Title: Planet X - The current status
Authors: Seidelmann, P. K.; Harrington, R. S.
Affiliation: AA(U.S. Naval Observatory, Washington, DC), AB(U.S. Naval Observatory, Washington, DC)
Publication: (BMFWF, Oesterreichische Forschungsgemeinschaft, Steiermaerkischer Wissenschafts- und Forschungslandesfonds, et al., Alexander von Humboldt Colloquium on Celestial Mechanics: Long Term Evolution of Planetary Systems, Ramsau, Austria, Mar. 14-18, 1988) Celestial Mechanics (ISSN 0008-8714), vol. 43, no. 1-4, 1987-1988, p. 55-68.

Publication Date: 00/1988
Category: Astrophysics
Origin: STI

NASA/STI Keywords: 
CERES ASTEROID, INFRARED ASTRONOMY SATELLITE, PLANET EPHEMERIDES, PLUTO (PLANET), COMPANION STARS, NEMESIS (STAR), PREDICTIONS, SOLAR SYSTEM

Bibliographic Code: 1988CeMec..43...55S

Abstract
Theoretical models of solar-system dynamics which predict the existence of a 10th planet (planet X) are surveyed and compared with recent observations. The history of the discoveries of Neptune and Pluto on the basis of discrepancies in the orbit of Uranus is recalled in detail, and the persistence of such discrepancies in 9-planet computations is considered. Particular attention is given to ongoing efforts to compute the current position of planet X, and to ground-based and space-based (IRAS and Pioneer) searches. Diagrams and graphs are provided.

SOURCE: Harvard Abstracts

• Full Refereed Journal Article (PDF/Postscript)
• Full Refereed Scanned Article (GIF)

Title: Discussion of current status of Planet X
Authors: Seidelmann, P. K.; Williams, C. A.
Affiliation: AA(U.S. Naval Observatory, Washington, DC), AB(South Florida, University, Tampa, FL)

Publication: (BMFWF, Oesterreichische Forschungsgemeinschaft, Steiermaerkischer Wissenschafts- und Forschungslandesfonds, et al., Alexander von Humboldt Colloquium on Celestial Mechanics: Long Term Evolution of Planetary Systems, Ramsau, Austria, Mar. 14-18, 1988) Celestial Mechanics (ISSN 0008-8714), vol. 43, no. 1-4, 1987-1988, p. 409-412.

Publication Date: 00/1988
Category: Astrophysics
Origin: STI

NASA/STI Keywords: 
NEPTUNE (PLANET), PLUTO (PLANET), SOLAR SYSTEM, HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE, INFRARED ASTRONOMY SATELLITE, PLANETARY ORBITS

Bibliographic Code: 1988CeMec..43..409S

Abstract
The present state of theory regarding the existence of a tenth planet is addressed. Some predictions made with regard to the characteristics of the hypothetical Planet X based on the motions of Uranus and Neptune are discussed. Search possibilities using IRAS data are considered.

SOURCE: Harvard Abstracts

• Full Refereed Journal Article (PDF/Postscript)
• Full Refereed Scanned Article (GIF)