A naukri.com initiative
Livescience
1M
275
Image Credit: Livescience
Astronomers identify a celestial '3-body problem' lurking in the outer solar system
- A rare example of a 'three-body problem' has been identified in the outer solar system, hinting at the existence of more triplets in the cosmic neighborhood.
- Astronomers initially discovered what they thought was a binary system named 148780 Altjira in the Kuiper Belt in 2001.
- Further study published in The Planetary Science Journal suggests that Altjira may actually be a triple system with two smaller objects orbiting closely to each other.
- The system is too distant for visual confirmation, but data from the Hubble Space Telescope and Keck Observatory support the triple system theory.
- The next decade will provide opportunities to observe the Altjira system in detail during its 'eclipsing season.'
- The three-body problem, involving three objects with similar mass orbiting each other, poses a mathematical challenge disrupting their trajectories.
- Triple systems such as Altjira and 47171 Lempo challenge conventional orbital mechanics understanding in the Kuiper Belt.
- Around 40 binary systems in the Kuiper Belt may contain unidentified triple systems, suggesting more discoveries in the region.
- Scientists estimate that there could be 'several hundred thousand' more Kuiper Belt objects still to be discovered.
- The study highlights that the Kuiper Belt could be a significant area for finding various three-body systems in the universe.
Read Full Article
16 Likes
For uninterrupted reading, download the app