Stable planet found in quad star system

Post #365,229 by jay 10/15/12 2:45:51 PM Reply	Stable planet found in quad star system http://io9.com/59518...et-with-four-suns Two volunteer astronomers have confirmed the existence of a Neptune-like planet that has four suns, making it the first quadruple star system ever discovered. The planet, which is 5,000 light years away from Earth, closely orbits one pair of stars, which in turn forms a unit that revolves around a second pair at a distance of around 1,000 AU. Not surprisingly, it was found in one of the most stable possible configurations for 4 stars, two pairs of very close stars that orbit each other at great distance. Still pretty amazing, I would have though that gravity would eventually destroy the planet one way or another.
Post #365,230 by drook 10/15/12 4:12:13 PM Reply	Wish they had a diagram of the orbits Does it look like a Spirograph, or just a couple rings within rings? -- Drew
Post #365,231 by Another Scott 10/15/12 4:44:14 PM 10/15/12 4:47:27 PM Reply	<strike>Nothing simple like that is in the paper.</strike> Er, wrong paper. http://arxiv.org/pdf/1210.3612v1 Page 48 shows the orbit. It's a complicated paper and doesn't show the orbits. That's probably why there isn't a diagram like that yet. The paper is free if you want it from the horse's mouth: http://iopscience.io...4-637X/549/1/590/ Cheers, Scott. Edited by Another Scott Oct. 15, 2012, 04:47:27 PM EDT Expand All History
Post #365,232 by drook 10/15/12 4:50:41 PM Reply	Yup, rings within rings That's the only thing that makes sense. -- Drew
Post #365,233 by malraux 10/15/12 4:56:28 PM Reply	It's turtles all the way down. Regards, -scott Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson.

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