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Strong evidence that two planets share the same orbit around a star has been presented in a discovery by a team of astronomers from the University of Arizona, the University of California, Berkeley and the Max Institute for Astronomy Planck.
The study’s lead author, Olga Balsalobre-Ruza, said the findings published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics were “the first evidence” that such dual worlds could exist. .
🦄 Have we found one of astronomy’s unicorns yet?
🤔 Theory says the two planets may share the same orbit, but the evidence is scant.
Using @almaobswhere ESO is a partner, astronomers have now found an exoplanet that could be such a sibling ➡️ https://t.co/kBjY7bTTLT 1/ pic.twitter.com/GngTSBOebp
— ESO (@ESO)
July 19, 2023
Astronomers made this discovery using ALMA to study a young star called PDS 70, located about 400 light-years from Earth.
ALMA can see the two planets because they emit radiation at millimeter wavelengths, which is not blocked by the star’s glare.
Astronomers discovered that the debris cloud was in the same orbit around PDS 70 as two other objects they believed to be planets. The debris cloud is about the size of Jupiter and is thought to be made up of dust and ice.
Astronomers believe the debris cloud could be the building block of a new planet, or it could be the remnants of a planet that formed and then destroyed. They are continuing to study the system to learn more about how it formed and evolved.
However, astronomers say they will have to wait until 2026 to accurately track the two objects around the star known as PDS 70. This is because the planets are so close together, and it takes them a long time. time to orbit the star. .
By 2026, astronomers will be able to track the motions of the planets more precisely, and they can confirm that they do indeed share the same orbits.
As study co-author Jorge Lillo-Box notes, the existence of such systems has been theoretically predicted, but they have never been seen before. This is because they are difficult to detect because they are often obscured by the glare of the star they orbit.
This is an important finding because it suggests that such systems may be more common than previously thought. It also raises the question of whether these systems are habitable, since they are capable of providing the right conditions for life to emerge.
In this article, we will explore the meaning and benefits of studying two planets in the same orbit around the same star. But first, let’s find out what is the scientific phenomenon that occurs when two planets share the same orbit.
Q. What is the phenomenon of two planets sharing the same orbit called?
Answer: The phenomenon of two planets sharing the same orbit is called a co-orbital configuration. There are two types of co-orbital configurations:
Trojan: These are objects that share an orbit with a planet but are located at a stable point in front or behind the planet. The most famous example of a Trojan is the asteroid 5261 Eureka, which shares an orbit with Jupiter.
Horseshoe Orbits: These are objects that have the same orbit as a planet, but they orbit the planet in a figure-eight pattern. The most famous example of a horseshoe orbit is the moon Janus, which shares an orbit with Saturn.
Q: How can two planets share the same orbit without colliding?
A: The key to understanding how two planets can share orbits without colliding is to understand the concept of gravitational stability. In a gravitationally stable system, the objects in the system are constantly moving around each other, but they never collide. This is because the gravitational forces between the objects keep them in their respective orbits.
In the case of two planets in the same orbit, the planets are kept in their orbits by the gravitational force between them and the star they are orbiting. The planets are also kept in their orbits by centrifugal force, the external force produced by their rotation.
The exact conditions that need to be met for two planets to share orbits without colliding are complicated, but they involve the masses of the planets, the masses of the stars, and the distances between the planets.
Q: What does it mean to have two planets in the same orbit?
A: The implications of having two planets in the same orbit can be significant. For example, if two planets are in a Trojan configuration, they can interact with each other in different ways. They can exchange mass, can collide, or can even form a binary system.
In the case of horseshoe orbits, the consequences are even more complicated. Two planets can interact with each other in different ways, and their orbits can be very chaotic. This could lead to collisions, ejections or even the formation of new moons.
Q: What is the prospect of finding multiple planets in the same orbit?
A: The prospect of finding many planets in the same orbit is good. There are billions of planets in the Milky Way galaxy, and most likely many of them have the same orbit. However, co-orbiting planets are difficult to detect because they are often very small and faint.
The best way to find planets in the same orbit is to find them in already discovered systems. For example, the Kepler space telescope has discovered thousands of exoplanets, and some of these may have similar orbits.
Another way to find planets in the same orbit is to look for them in systems that are still forming. For example, the Orion Nebula is a star-forming region and it is likely that some of the planets in the Orion Nebula are co-orbitals.
Orion Nebula, Image: NASA
Q: What are the benefits of studying planets in the same orbit?
A: Studying planets in the same orbit can help us understand the formation and evolution of planetary systems. These systems are thought to have formed when two planets formed in the same region of the protoplanetary disk. As the planets grow, they can interact with each other by gravity, which can lead to a variety of outcomes.
Studying planets in the same orbit can also help us understand the habitability of planetary systems. If a planet is in a co-orbital configuration with another, it is more likely to be habitable. This is because the two planets can interact with each other by gravity, which can help stabilize the orbits of both planets. This could raise the possibility that planets will have liquid water on their surfaces, which is essential for life as we know it.
Here are a few ways that studying planets in the same orbit can help:
Understanding the formation and evolution of planetary systems: Planets co-orbiting can provide clues to how planetary systems form and evolve. By studying these systems, astronomers can learn more about the processes that lead to the formation of planets and how these processes can be affected by gravitational interactions.
Understanding the habitability of planetary systems: Planets in the same orbit can also help astronomers understand the habitability of planetary systems. By studying these systems, astronomers can learn more about the conditions necessary for life to emerge and exist.
New technology development: Studying planets in the same orbit can also help develop new technologies. For example, studying these systems could help develop new methods for detecting exoplanets and studying their atmospheres.
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Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: pagasa.edu.vn