Amateur Planet Hunters Find First Planet In a Four-Star System

Posted by samzenpus on Monday October 15, 2012 @05:08AM from the four-suns-are-better-than-one dept.

The Bad Astronomer writes "For the first time, a planet has been found in a stellar system composed of four stars. The planet, called PH-1, orbits a binary star made of two sun-like stars in a tight orbit. That binary is itself orbited by another binary pair much farther out. Even more amazing, this planet was found by two "citizen scientists", amateurs who participated in Planet Hunters, a project which puts Kepler Observatory data online for lay people to analyze. At least two confirmed planets have been found by this project, but this is the first — ever — in a quaternary system."

3 of 52 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

Next thing you know... by GODISNOWHERE · 2012-10-15 05:20 · Score: 4, Funny

Gillette sponsors a team of astronomers to find a planetary system of five stars. http://www.theonion.com/articles/fuck-everything-were-doing-five-blades,11056/ [Link contains strong language that may be considered NSFW]
A 4 star solar system sounds nice... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-15 05:23 · Score: 2, Funny

But I was really planning on retiring on a 5 star solar system. The help really care about you in those places.
Obligatory by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-15 05:23 · Score: 4, Funny

Picard : There...are...FOUR...lights!