| UPDATED: 16:39, Mon, Jan 25, 2021
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Closely clustered around star TOI-178, this unique six-planet system lies approximately 200 light years away from us. When was first observed, scientists, suspected this star only boasted a pair of planets travelling in the same orbit.
Date Time
CHEOPS finds unique planetary system
The CHEOPS space telescope detects six planets orbiting the star TOI-178. Five of the planets are in a harmonic rhythm despite very different compositions. This result challenges our understanding of the formation and evolution of planetary systems.
Illustration VLT/eso
Musical notes that sound pleasant together can form a harmony. These notes are usually in a special relationship with each other: when expressed as frequencies, their ratios result in simple fractions, such as four-thirds or three-halves. Similarly, a planetary system can also form a kind of harmony when planets, whose orbital period ratios form simple fractions, regularly attract each other with their gravity. When one planet takes three days to orbit its star and its neighbor takes two days, for example. Using the CHEOPS space telescope, scientists from the University of Geneva, the University of Bern and the National Center of Competence in Research PlanetS, found
ESA - ESA s exoplanet watcher Cheops reveals unique planetary system esa.int - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from esa.int Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.