Scientists have discovered a rare triple-star system named KELT-4Ab with a gas giant planet similar in size to Jupiter.
It was discovered by the researchers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics in the United States.
The research was published in The Astronomical Journal.
Key Points
Known planets with three stars appearing in their sky are rare and the new discovery is just the fourth and the closest one yet.
In KELT-4Ab triple-star system, the main star named KELT-A is brighter than the other stars that serve as suns for their planets.
It has a gas giant planet, similar in size to Jupiter takes approximately three days to make its way around its sun (star) KELT-A.
The other two stars are named KELT-B and C. They are much farther away and orbit one another over the course of approximately 30 years.
It takes the pair of stars approximately four thousand years to orbit KELT-A. They appear much dimmer due to their great distance.
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