Astronomers Discover Triple Star System with Record-Breaking Orbital Period
TIC 290061484 features a third star orbiting its inner pair every 25 days, setting a new record for the shortest known outer orbital period.
- The discovery was made using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and confirmed by a team of professional and amateur astronomers.
- TIC 290061484 is located in the constellation Cygnus, approximately 4,954 light-years from Earth.
- The system's compact, edge-on configuration allows scientists to measure the orbits, masses, sizes, and temperatures of its stars.
- The research, led by Dr. Veselin Kostov, was published in The Astrophysical Journal, highlighting the potential for more such discoveries.
- NASA's upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is expected to further enhance the study of star systems with its high-resolution capabilities.