All six planets orbit the same star in resonance with each other, maintaining a steady rhythm over billions of years, according to a new study. This unique system, called HD 110067, is a rare phenomenon, according to his report in the November 29 issue of Nature.

“The HD 110067 system is notable for several reasons. First, all six planets have orbits that perfectly match each other in a so-called resonance state, which is rare. Second, , this star is very bright, which makes it easy to study the planet,” explained co-author Hugh Osborne from the University of Bern. The exoplanet orbiting this bright yellow star is comparable in size to Earth and the ice giant Neptune. These so-called “sub-Neptunes” are interesting objects to study because they don’t exist in our solar system. Research into the HD 110067 system began in 2020, when observations from NASA’s TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) revealed a dip in the star’s light, suggesting a transiting planet. Further research by CHEOPS (Characterizing Exoplanet Satellite) confirmed the existence of her six planets moving in sync while resonating.

HD 110067’s six planets exhibit a unique resonance, with the outermost planet orbiting the star once, while the innermost planet orbits the star six times. This 6:1 resonance characterizes this system as a “cosmic waltz,” with other planets following their own rhythms. In addition to this surprising resonance, the planet HD 110067 provides an excellent opportunity to study its atmosphere. Because all planets pass in front of a bright star, they are subject to easy analysis, and scientists used the James Webb Space Telescope to study the planet’s atmosphere, perhaps finding traces of an ocean beneath its surface. hope to discover.