Chapter 1: The Discovery of GW Orionis

The image of GW Orionis, a unique triple star system, reveals an intriguing gap within its dust rings. The left image, captured by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) telescope, illustrates the ringed structure of the disc, highlighting the separation of the innermost ring from the rest. The right image depicts the shadow cast by this innermost ring across the disc.

Could astronomers have identified the first planet orbiting three stars? This potential finding may significantly enhance our comprehension of how planets form.

The vastness of the universe continues to captivate our imagination, both near and far. As we delve into our own solar system through various space missions, advanced telescopes equipped with cutting-edge technology allow us to glimpse the hidden wonders of deep space. Each new revelation contributes to our understanding of the universe's complexities.

Recent studies by researchers from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas propose that they may have discovered the first known planet orbiting three stars. Binary star systems are common in our universe, and astronomers increasingly accept the notion that many stars are born in pairs.

Last year, we explored a study from Harvard researchers suggesting that our Sun might have had a twin long ago. While binary systems are no longer seen as anomalies, the latest discovery could be an entirely different story—one that’s only about 1,300 light-years away from Earth.

The phenomenon was observed in the GW Ori star system, a region densely populated with binary stars. If confirmed, this would mark the first instance of a planet in a circumptriple orbit. Researchers utilized the powerful ALMA telescope for their observations.

The first video explores the groundbreaking discovery of a planet orbiting three stars simultaneously, shedding light on this remarkable celestial phenomenon.

“It’s incredibly thrilling because it strengthens the theory of planet formation,” remarks Jeremy Smallwood, the lead author of the study. “It suggests that the process of planet formation could be far more active than we previously believed, which is quite fascinating.”

The research team observed three distinct dust rings encircling the stars. However, the presence of a gap in the circumtriple disc raised questions. They speculated that this gap might be due to gravitational interactions from the three stars.

Through extensive modeling of GW Ori, the researchers concluded that the observed gap could indicate the presence of one or more massive planets, similar to Jupiter. Current knowledge indicates that gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn typically form first within a star system, followed by terrestrial planets like Earth.

Although the planet itself has not been directly observed with the current ALMA data, the study boldly claims to have identified the first circumtriple planet ever. Further observations from the ALMA telescope are anticipated to confirm this hypothesis—something we are eagerly awaiting.

The second video discusses the exciting implications of the discovery, detailing how a planet orbiting three stars was found 1,300 light-years from Earth.

The complete research findings have been published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

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