Current:Home > BackAstronomers discover rare sight: 6 planets orbiting star in 'pristine configuration'-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Astronomers discover rare sight: 6 planets orbiting star in 'pristine configuration'
View Date:2024-12-23 17:00:14
Astronomers gazing upon a star system not too far from Earth were recently treated to a marvelous discovery: a group of six planets moving around a sun-like star in a seemingly perfect cosmic dance routine.
Estimated to be billions of years old, the planetary formation 100 light-years away in the constellation Coma Berenices may help unravel some mysteries of our solar system.
The new planets, revealed in a paper published Wednesday in the journal Nature, could be the key to understanding how planets form and why so many of them are between the size of Earth and Neptune. Little is known about the planetary class, known as "sub-Neptunes," despite how common they are in our Milky Way galaxy, said Rafael Luque, an astronomer at the University of Chicago who led an international team on the study.
“This discovery is going to become a benchmark system to study how sub-Neptunes ... form, evolve, what are they made of,” Luque said in a statement.
Sagittarius A:Study finds our galaxy’s black hole is altering space-time
Planets orbiting stars in sync are rare
To make their observations, the team of astronomers turned to a pair of exoplanet-detecting satellites – NASA’s TESS and the European Space Agency’s Cheops.
TESS had detected dips in the brightness of a star known as HD110067 in 2020 that indicated planets were passing in front of its surface. Intrigued, researchers analyzed data from both TESS and Cheops to discover what they said is a first-of-its-kind planetary configuration.
While our galaxy is rife with multi-planet systems, much less common are systems with planets orbiting in a perfect resonance, meaning each planet loops around the host star in a precise, orderly way. In this case, the four planets closest to the star make three orbits for every two of the next planet out, while the two outermost planets make four orbits for every three of the next planet out.
Such synchrony may occur when planets first form, but astronomers theorize that as time goes on, its likely for orbits to get knocked out of rhythm. Close encounters with a passing star, the formation of a massive planet and giant impacts can all upset the gravitational balance of the system.
But the team of astronomers believe that these six planets orbiting the star HD110067 have been miraculously performing this same rhythmic dance since the system formed billions of years ago.
“It shows us the pristine configuration of a planetary system that has survived untouched,” Luque said
Understanding 'sub-Neptune' planets
Other planets in the system could still be undetected, which is why the astronomers are calling for additional observations.
Little is also known about the composition of the planets or their atmospheres, other than that they are gaseous and – because of their proximity to their host star – extremely hot.
It's unlikely the planets located outside the so-called habitable zone support life, but more data may illuminate whether the planets have conditions for liquid water on their surfaces, Luque said.
Further study would also help astronomers solve more mysteries about what sort of chaos ensued to knock the planets in our own solar system out of such harmony.
Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]
veryGood! (64889)
Related
- Mattel says it ‘deeply’ regrets misprint on ‘Wicked’ dolls packaging that links to porn site
- Mexico City prosecutors accused of asking for phone records of prominent politicians
- Panel to investigate Maine shooting is established as lawyers serve notice on 20 agencies
- Bears vs. Panthers Thursday Night Football highlights: Chicago holds on for third win
- Why Game of Thrones' Maisie Williams May Be Rejoining the George R.R. Martin Universe
- Clashes over Israel-Hamas war shatter students’ sense of safety on US college campuses
- From loons to a Lab.: Minnesota's state flag submissions do not disappoint
- Bachelor Nation's Rachel Lindsay Details Family Plans and Journey With Husband Bryan Abasolo
- Inspector general finds no fault in Park Police shooting of Virginia man in 2017
- Ryan Gosling Is Just a Grammy Nominee
Ranking
- Footage shows Oklahoma officer throwing 70-year-old to the ground after traffic ticket
- Melissa Rivers Reveals How Fiancé Steve Mitchel Asked Her Son Cooper's Permission Before Proposing
- How to talk to older people in your life about scams
- CBS News poll finds Republican voters want to hear about lowering inflation, not abortion or Trump
- New Orleans marks with parade the 64th anniversary of 4 little girls integrating city schools
- The Excerpt podcast: More women are dying from alcohol-related causes. Why?
- Embattled Missouri House speaker hires a former House speaker who pleaded guilty to assault
- Virginia's Perris Jones has 'regained movement in all of his extremities'
Recommendation
-
'Squid Game' creator lost '8 or 9' teeth making Season 1, explains Season 2 twist
-
The 2024 Grammy Award nominations are about to arrive. Here’s what to know
-
How a history of trauma is affecting the children of Gaza
-
As olive oil's popularity rises over perceived health benefits, so do prices. Here's why.
-
Kevin Costner says he hasn't watched John Dutton's fate on 'Yellowstone': 'Swear to God'
-
If you think Airbnb, Vrbo are cheaper than hotels, you might want to think again!
-
Maryland woman wins over $200,000 from Racetrax lottery game after husband criticizes her betting strategy
-
EU plan aimed at fighting climate change to go to final votes, even if watered down