According to a recently published study, scientists discovered a multiplanetary system that orbits a “sun-like star” for the first time.
The research, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, describes two giant exoplanets (TYC 8998-760-1b and TYC 8998-760-1c) that orbit the star TYC 8998-760-1, approximately 300 light-years from Earth. A light year, which measures distance in space, is approximately 6 trillion miles.
“This discovery is a snapshot of an environment that is very similar to our Solar System, but at a much earlier stage in its evolution,” said study lead author Alexander Bohn in a statement.
This image, captured by the SPHERE instrument on ESO’s Very Large Telescope, shows the star TYC 8998-760-1 accompanied by two giant exoplanets. (Credit: ESO / Bohn et al.)
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The finding was made by the Very Large Telescope (VLT) of the European Southern Observatory in Chile.
Before this discovery, images from two multi-planet systems were captured, but neither had a “sun-like star,” the researchers added, making the discovery even more important.
“Although astronomers have indirectly detected thousands of planets in our galaxy, only a small fraction of these exoplanets have been directly photographed,” said Leiden University assistant professor and study co-author Matthew Kenworthy, adding that ” direct observations are important in the search for environments that can support life. “
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Both TYC 8998-760-1b and TYC 8998-760-1c are massive, but TYC 8998-760-1b, which had been previously discovered, is significantly larger than Jupiter, at 14 times its mass. TYC 8998-760-1c is six times the mass of Jupiter and both planets orbit the star at approximately 160 and 320 astronomical units.
An astronomical unit, which measures the distance from Earth to the sun, is approximately 93 million miles.
Experts said more research is needed to determine if additional planets revolve around the 17-million-year-old star to make it even more similar to our own Solar System.
“The possibility that future instruments, such as those available in the [European Extremely Large Telescope], it will be able to detect even lower mass planets around this star marks an important milestone in understanding multi-planet systems, with possible implications for the history of our own solar system, “Bohn explained.
NASA discovered more than 4,000 exoplanets in total, approximately 50 of which are thought to be habitable as of September 2018. They are the correct size and correct orbit for their star to withstand surface water and, at least theoretically, for Life Support.
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