Posted on 09/04/2020 1:41:21 PM PDT by MtnClimber
This could be the first known planet in the universe to orbit three suns at once.
Perched on the tip of Orion's nose, there spins a solar system that could give Tatooine — Luke Skywalker's twin-sunned homeworld — a run for its money.
Known as GW Orionis (or GW Ori) and located about 1,300 light-years from Earth, the system is a rare example of a triple-star solar system, with two suns orbiting one another at the center, and a third star swirling around its siblings from several hundred million miles away. Scientists previously identified the system by its three bright rings of planet-forming dust, nested inside one another like a massive orange bullseye in the sky.
Now, a closer analysis reveals that the rings may hold more than just dust; according to two recent studies, published today (Sept. 3) in the journal Science and May 21 in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, there could be a young planet, or the makings of one, bulging up inside the rings and throwing off the whole system's gravitational balance. The presence of such a planet would not only help explain why the system's inner ring appears to be wobbling around wildly like a broken gyroscope — but, if confirmed, the distant world would also become the first known example of a single planet orbiting three suns at once, the researchers said.
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
Orion is an interesting region!
The leaves are wonderful there this time of year!
“Rarest planet in the universe may be lurking in Orion’s nose”
You might think that headline is funny but it’s snot...
‘s not
So a planet sized booger?
If you think it’s butter, but it’s snot...it’s Chiffon!
I thought the universe was on Orion’s belt.
Drat Uranus only orbits one.
It could be a planet like Uranus.
Orion might have stuck his nose in uranus.
Ah, a planet sized brown nose then.
That stinks.
If Proxima Centauri is gravitationally connected to Alpha Centauri, it is part of a three-star system, because Alpha Centauri is a double star. It is a lot closer.
May the Bird of Paradise fly up your nose.
Up your nose with a rubber hose.
Proxima Centauri B is in a triple star system right in our back yard, but it only revolves around one of the stars. I can imagine another little one out there somewhere, revolving around all three.
Rarest planet in universe but life throughout universe is commonplace.
That was assteroidinarily bad.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.