Scientists Discover Unique Six Planet System Orbiting in ‘Perfect Harmony’
Astronomers have made an extraordinary discovery of six planets that are orbiting a star in our Milky Way galaxy in what they describe as “perfect harmony.” The solar system, located about 100 light-years from Earth, appears to be undisturbed by outside factors since its creation billions of years ago.
The rare finding was made possible through observations from the European Space Agency’s Cheops and NASA’s Tess telescopes. The discovery is expected to provide astronomers with valuable data to deepen their understanding of how solar systems form and evolve.
The star at the center of this unique planetary arrangement is known as HD110067 and is about 20 percent smaller in mass than our sun. The six planets are roughly two to three times the size of Earth, although their densities are believed to be closer to gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn in our own solar system.
The scientists have categorized the planets as “sub-Neptunes,” a common type of planet found within the Milky Way galaxy. Despite their size, the planets are much smaller than Neptune but larger than Earth.
The orbits of the six planets range from nine days to 54 days, positioning them even closer to their star than Venus is to the sun, resulting in extremely high temperatures on the planets. While only six planets have been discovered thus far, the researchers have suggested the possibility of more in the system.
The team of astronomers, who recently published their findings in the journal Nature, revealed that the six planets are in a rare state called orbital resonance, meaning they are completely synchronized in their gravitational formation. The researchers believe that this synchronized motion has been occurring since the formation of the system approximately 4 billion years ago.
Lead researcher Hugh Osborn of the University of Bern in Switzerland emphasized the mathematical beauty of the system’s resonance interactions, adding that the discovery could provide crucial insights into the mysterious sub-Neptune planets. Rafael Luque, the lead writer of the study and an astronomer from the University of Chicago, expressed optimism about the potential of the discovery in advancing the study of sub-Neptunes.
Scientists have long been curious about the nature of sub-Neptunes and the new discovery offers an unparalleled opportunity to study these enigmatic planets. Enric Palle, a researcher at the Institute of Astrophysics in the Canary Islands, pointed out that no other solar system has been found to have as many planets in perfect synchronization as the newly discovered one.
The surprising accuracy of the orbital periods of these planets has left researchers astonished, with Osborn stating, “My jaw was on the floor. That was a really nice moment.”
The discovery is indeed a cause for excitement among astronomers, offering a pristine opportunity to unlock the secrets of these mysterious sub-Neptune planets. This breakthrough has the potential to shape our understanding of solar systems and planetary formations across the universe.
I’m Bryan Lynn.
Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English based on reports from The Associated Press, Reuters, NASA, The University of Chicago, and the University of Geneva.