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Astronomers Find Rare Triple-Star Planet (phys.org)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the bright-sky dept.

Phys.org is reporting the discovery of a rare planet with three different stars in its sky, two distant stars orbiting each other and a closer third star which would appear 40 times as large as our sun. Two robotically controlled telescopes -- one in Arizona, one in South Africa -- determined the gas giant planet KELT-4Ab was orbiting two separate stars which had always appeared to be one. The brighter third star will make it easier to study both the star itself and the nearby planet. "Known planets with three stars appearing in their sky are rare," reports Phys.org," adding "this new discovery is just the fourth, and it has caused excitement in the space community because it is the closest one yet, allowing for a better look than has been possible with the other finds."

"The environment in which this planet exists is quite spectacular," add Maciej Konacki from the California Institute of Technology, telling Space.com that "With three suns, the sky view must be out of this world -- literally and figuratively."

7 of 28 comments (clear)

  1. DO NOT BROADCAST by Rob+Bos · · Score: 4, Funny

    do not repeat DO NOT send them a signal

    1. Re:DO NOT BROADCAST by Rob+Bos · · Score: 2

      LOOKING AT YOU CHINA

    2. Re:DO NOT BROADCAST by serviscope_minor · · Score: 2

      No, but, putting you out of your misery, you haven't read "The Three Body Problem".

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
  2. Pitch Black? by ihtoit · · Score: 2

    Not afraid of the dark, are you?

    (yes, it was a satellite of a ringed gas giant that orbited in a system with three suns: a red dwarf and a white dwarf which co-orbited outside the orbit of the planet M6-117 (the desert planet) and a blue giant in the barycentre. I think).

    Damn. I'm a geek.

    --
    Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
  3. Only three stars? by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 4, Funny

    Phys.org is reporting the discovery of a rare planet with three different stars in its sky

    That's nothing. I just looked out of my window and saw hundreds.

    --
    systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
  4. Asimov's Nightfall by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightfall_(Asimov_short_story_and_novel)

  5. No Dark Crystal references? by mendred · · Score: 2, Funny

    Sheesh am I old or what!