Scientists have discovered a planet similar to Jupiter, but it exists within a peculiar triple star system. This finding challenges existing theories about planet formation.
The triple star system is called HD 188753, located in the Cygnus constellation. Along with the planet, it is situated 149 light-years away from Earth, and the stars are positioned close together, much like our Sun is in relation to Saturn. If you stood on the surface of that planet, you would see three “suns” in the sky, even though the central orbit revolves around the largest yellow star.
Traditionally, gas giant planets like Jupiter are thought to form within a dense disk of gas and material, located at least 3 astronomical units away from their parent star, which is three times the distance between the Sun and Earth. At such a distance, there is enough space for solid materials to coalesce, forming a core that then attracts surrounding gases, resulting in the creation of a massive planet.
After these planets are formed, they migrate inward to create the close orbits we observe today around their parent stars.
However, if the parent star has too close companions, their gravitational pull can disrupt the formation of the planetary material disk around the central star. In the case of the HD 188753 triple star system, the two companion stars “consume” the material disk around the main star, reducing its radius to just 1.3 astronomical units, leaving no room for planets to form.
“How a planet can form under such complex conditions is very difficult to understand“, remarked Dr. Maciej Konacki from the California Institute of Technology. “I believe there is much we do not yet know about the formation processes of giant planets“.
This discovery may lead scientists to search for planets in new positions.
Article by Trần Ngọc Tuấn 9A/ĐK (According to VnExpress/ABConline, Discovery)
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