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An International Team of Astronomers Discovers Rare Multiplanetary Circumbinary System
An international team of astronomers announced the second discovery of a multiplanetary circumbinary system, BEBOP-1 or TOI-1338. The University of Birmingham discovered the second planet in the system, BEBOP-1c, using the Doppler method.
What is a Multiplanetary Circumbinary System?
A circumbinary system is a system that contains planets that orbit around two stars in the center, unlike our Solar System that has only one. In a circumbinary system, planets orbit around both stars at once.
The Discovery of the BEBOP-1c Planet
The newly discovered planet in the BEBOP-1 system is named BEBOP-1c, which has an orbital period of 215 days and a mass 65 times larger than Earth. The planet is essential in expanding our knowledge about planetary creation around two stars. The discovery was made using the Doppler method – also called the wobble method or radial-velocity method – that accurately measures the velocity of stars.
The BEBOP-1 System
The BEBOP-1 system is known as TOI-1338, and in 2020, a planet, TOI-1338b, was discovered in the same system using the transit method that NASA’s TESS space telescope contributed data. The BEBOP team was already monitoring the system using another detection method known as the Doppler method.
The Challenges of BEBOP-1c Planet Discovery
Despite their best efforts, the team couldn’t measure the mass of the planet noticed by TESS despite years of work, instead, they discovered BEBOP-1c and measured its mass. The pandemic played its role in interfering with the discovery process by closing telescopes in Chile for six months during a critical part of the planet’s orbit.
Conclusion
The discovery of the BEBOP-1c planet by the University of Birmingham is an essential milestone that improves our understanding of what happens when a planet is created in a circumbinary system. The knowledge gained from this discovery will inspire further study.
FAQ
What is a multiplanetary circumbinary system?
A multiplanetary circumbinary system contains planets that orbit around two stars in the center, unlike our Solar System that has only one. In a circumbinary system, planets orbit around both stars at once.
What is the Doppler method?
The Doppler method – also called the wobble method or radial-velocity method – is a detection method that measures the velocity of stars accurately.
How did the pandemic affect the discovery of the BEBOP-1c planet?
The pandemic interfered with the discovery process by closing telescopes in Chile for six months during a critical part of the planet’s orbit.
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