Some researchers have discovered the first exoplanet to orbit three stars. It is in a distant star system, and it is 1,300 light-years away from the Earth. This system is called  GW Orionis.

While our solar system has only one star (the Sun), it is not entirely unusual to find star systems with more than one star. Researchers have found star systems that even have seven stars and they are bound in a complex orbital space.

What is an exoplanet?

An exoplanet is a planet that exists beyond our solar system. Most of the exoplanets orbit around stars. But there are some free-floating exoplanets that orbit around the galactic centre.

Even before the new discovery, exoplanets have been found in a trinary (three-star) system before. But they orbited around only one star of the system. However, this exoplanet orbits all three stars. So, if this discovery is confirmed, this will be something entirely new. Till now, we have found 32 exoplanets that are in a trinary system.

The discovery

Scientists found GW Orionis through Atacama Large Millimeter Array(ALMA). The exoplanet is surrounded by the misaligned protoplanetary disk that circles all three stars. A protoplanetary disk is a rotating disk of dense gas and dust which surrounds newly formed stars.

The astronomers also revealed that there is a gap between the protoplanetary disk. This gap is made due to the planets’ formation.

 

 

Curious Times is committed to providing the best experience and news to children. We bring to you the Curious Times Weekly with the top news of the week. You can also check out The Curious Magazine, the first children’s magazine with all the great content by the children, for the children. We would love for you, dear children, to write and get your stories, art, thoughts and more published at My Expressions. Write to us at hello@curioustimes.in.You can also follow us on WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook Youtube, Twitter, LinkedIn.

  0  (Please login to give a Curious Clap to your friend.)

To post your comment Login/Signup