Astronomers have discovered the gas giant orbiting a star in a three-star system 1,800 light years away.
This star system, called KOI-5, is located in the constellation Cygnus. The planet in question is KOI-5Ab, discovered by NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope in 2009. However, it has been “overlooked” because it is difficult to observe.
“KOI-5Ab is dropped because it’s complicated and we have thousands of applicants. There are easier options than KOI-5Ab. So it’s almost forgotten,” said David Ciardi, scientist. from NASA’s Institute for Exoplanet Science said.
KOI-5Ab is approximately 1,800 light years from Earth.
However, thanks to NASA’s Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and other terrestrial telescopes, KOA-5Ab has started to be explored in more detail.
Astronomers predict that KOA-5Ab could be a gas giant similar to Jupiter and Saturn. However, it revolves around a star in KOI-5 – KOA-5A every 5 days.
It is not related to one or even to the other two, KOI-5B and KOI-5C.
KOI-5A and KOI-5B with masses similar to that of the Sun form a binary star system. They rotate in orbit every 30 years. In particular, KOI-5C revolves around the other two planets with a cycle of 400 years.
“We don’t know that there are a lot of planets that exist in the three-star system and this planet is more special because of its orbits. We still have a lot of questions about how and when planets are formed. Star systems and how their properties compare to planets in a star system By studying this system in more detail, perhaps we can better understand how the universe was created — the planets, “Ciardi added.
Due to their location in different planes, the four celestial bodies have deviated orbits. Researchers suggest that KOI-5B may disrupt the trajectory of KOI-5Ab during its formation.
According to scientists, three-star systems currently make up about 10% of all star systems.
