Image: Artist's conception of a binary star system with three huge planets; one star has two planets associated with it, and the other star has one planet. Credit: Robin Dienel We've found a lot of Tatooine-like planets -- that is, planets with two stars. In some cases we've even found multiple planets around these systems. But with every new discovery, we find something new that we didn't know was possible in nature. <a href="http://www.seeker.com/bizarre-alien-world-with-3-stars-directly-imaged-1908963242.html">RELATED: Bizarre Alien World With 3 Stars Directly Imaged</a> Take the latest find: two stars, three planets, all happily in harmony with no gravitational preturbances throwing bodies out of the system. What's exciting scientists about the configuration around these stars (HD 133131A and HD 133131B) is just how tightly everything is packed. The team says this is the tightest configuration of stars and planets they have ever seen. WATCH VIDEO: Can Two-Star Systems Like Tatooine's Exist?

Image: Artist's conception of a binary star system with three huge planets; one star has two planets associated with it, and the other star has one planet. Credit: Robin Dienel We've found a lot of Tatooine-like planets -- that is, planets with two stars. In some cases we've even found multiple planets around these systems. But with every new discovery, we find something new that we didn't know was possible in nature.

<a href="http://www.seeker.com/bizarre-alien-world-with-3-stars-directly-imaged-1908963242.html">RELATED: Bizarre Alien World With 3 Stars Directly Imaged</a>

Take the latest find: two stars, three planets, all happily in harmony with no gravitational preturbances throwing bodies out of the system. What's exciting scientists about the configuration around these stars (HD 133131A and HD 133131B) is just how tightly everything is packed. The team says this is the tightest configuration of stars and planets they have ever seen.

WATCH VIDEO: Can Two-Star Systems Like Tatooine's Exist?

Image: Artist's conception of a binary star system with three huge planets; one star has two planets associated with it, and the other star has one planet. Credit: Robin Dienel We've found a lot of Tatooine-like planets -- that is, planets with two stars. In some cases we've even found multiple planets around these systems. But with every new discovery, we find something new that we didn't know was possible in nature.<a href="http://www.seeker.com/bizarre-alien-world-with-3-stars-directly-imaged-1908963242.html">RELATED: Bizarre Alien World With 3 Stars Directly Imaged</a>Take the latest find: two stars, three planets, all happily in harmony with no gravitational preturbances throwing bodies out of the system. What's exciting scientists about the configuration around these stars (HD 133131A and HD 133131B) is just how tightly everything is packed. The team says this is the tightest configuration of stars and planets they have ever seen.WATCH VIDEO: Can Two-Star Systems Like Tatooine's Exist?

Get 15% off <a href="http://www.domain.com/" target="_blank">Domain.com</a>'s domain names and web hosting when you use coupon code DNEWS at checkout!<hr /><blockquote>Related on TestTube: <a href="http://testu.be/1F2tgxh">Why We Can't Have Lightsabers</a> <a href="http://testu.be/1F2tMvh">5 Common Space Myths Debunked!</a></blockquote><hr />Binary star systems--a star system with two stars orbiting each other at the center--are fairly common in our universe, with some estimating that as many as half the stars we see are actually multiple star systems. The two stars are usually so close to each other they appear to be one star to the naked eye; closer examination with a telescope or via spectroscopy reveals two stars locked in a cosmic dance around a common center of mass. Binary systems usually have one larger and brighter "primary" star and a dimmer, smaller star called the "secondary".Before the first exoplanets were discovered, it was theorized that star systems were either binary systems or they had planets orbiting them, which would make a planet with two suns (like Luke Skywalker's home planet of Tatooine) impossible. However, researchers from University of Utah have come up with a gravitational model where Earth-like planets could nest into stable orbits in a binary star system just as easily as they do in a single-star system.So an alien planet with two (or more) suns in its sky is no longer relegated to the realm of science fiction. In fact, stargazers from Ohio State University found a terrestrial planet orbiting a binary star system around 3,000 light years away from Earth named OGLE-2013-BLG-0341LBb. This planet is most likely too cold and dark to host life. Researchers think this planet orbits its host stars in an "s-shaped" orbit, though, which would mean it probably gets some pretty cool sunsets.Are there other elements from your favorite works of sci-fi that you're curious could really exist? Let us know in the comments!Learn More: <a href="http://io9.com/weve-discovered-a-binary-star-system-whose-planet-is-in-1599753945" target="_blank">We've Discovered a Binary Star System Whose Planet Is in Stable Orbit</a> (io9) "We've found a frozen, rocky planet orbiting one of its two parent binary stars in a stable Earth-like orbit."<a href="http://www.astronomy.com/news/2014/01/new-studies-give-strong-boost-to-binary-star-formation-theory" target="_blank">New studies give strong boost to binary-star formation theory</a> (Astronomy.com) "Clues support the idea that double-star systems form when a disk of gas and dust whirling around one young star fragments, forming another new star in orbit with the first."<a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24866-astrophile-binary-stars-that-form-like-fraternal-twins.html#.VUPa4a3BzGc" target="_blank">Astrophile: Binary stars that form like fraternal twins</a> (NewScientist.com) "Some argue binaries are like twins, whether identical - beginning their existence as one entity and dividing in two early on - or fraternal - both forming from scratch in the same proto-stellar disc."<a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150330082532.htm" target="_blank">Earthlike 'Star Wars' Tatooines may be common</a> (ScienceDaily.com) "Now, mathematical simulations show that Earthlike, solid planets such as Tatooine likely exist and may be widespread."

 Can Two-Star Systems Like Tatooine's Exist?

In general, the system could help us better understand the influence of huge planets like Jupiter. According to lead author Johanna Teske of the Carnegie Institution for Science, scientists are trying to figure out if the orbits of planets like Jupiter are long and eccentric. This could affect how other planets are formed. <a href="http://www.seeker.com/two-planets-with-twin-stars-found-discovery-news-1766501566.html">RELATED: Two Planets With Twin Stars Found</a> "The most-common exoplanets detected are so-called super-Earths, which are larger than our planet but smaller than Neptune or Uranus. Given current statistics, Jupiter-sized planets seem fairly rare-having been detected only around a small percentage of stars," the team said in a press release.

In general, the system could help us better understand the influence of huge planets like Jupiter. According to lead author Johanna Teske of the Carnegie Institution for Science, scientists are trying to figure out if the orbits of planets like Jupiter are long and eccentric. This could affect how other planets are formed.

<a href="http://www.seeker.com/two-planets-with-twin-stars-found-discovery-news-1766501566.html">RELATED: Two Planets With Twin Stars Found</a>

"The most-common exoplanets detected are so-called super-Earths, which are larger than our planet but smaller than Neptune or Uranus. Given current statistics, Jupiter-sized planets seem fairly rare-having been detected only around a small percentage of stars," the team said in a press release.

In general, the system could help us better understand the influence of huge planets like Jupiter. According to lead author Johanna Teske of the Carnegie Institution for Science, scientists are trying to figure out if the orbits of planets like Jupiter are long and eccentric. This could affect how other planets are formed.<a href="http://www.seeker.com/two-planets-with-twin-stars-found-discovery-news-1766501566.html">RELATED: Two Planets With Twin Stars Found</a>"The most-common exoplanets detected are so-called super-Earths, which are larger than our planet but smaller than Neptune or Uranus. Given current statistics, Jupiter-sized planets seem fairly rare-having been detected only around a small percentage of stars," the team said in a press release.

"This is of interest because Jupiter's gravitational pull was likely a huge influence on our solar system's architecture during its formative period. So the scarcity of Jupiter-like planets could explain why our home system is different from all the others found to date." The stars are about 360 Earth-sun distances (or astronomical units) from each other, which is very close for a binary star system with planets. The next-closest star set is about 1,000 AU apart. <a href="http://www.seeker.com/forget-tatooine-this-exoplanet-has-three-suns-1771144810.html">RELATED: Forget Tatooine, This Exoplanet Has THREE Suns</a> There are other mysteries as well: Why the star system has so much hydrogen and helium, instead of elements such as iron and oxygen (which is common in stars that host planets.) And why the stars are not identical twins, but have different compositions -- which could show that one star gobbled baby planets early in its childhood. A study based on the research will be published in The Astronomical Journal.

"This is of interest because Jupiter's gravitational pull was likely a huge influence on our solar system's architecture during its formative period. So the scarcity of Jupiter-like planets could explain why our home system is different from all the others found to date."

The stars are about 360 Earth-sun distances (or astronomical units) from each other, which is very close for a binary star system with planets. The next-closest star set is about 1,000 AU apart.

<a href="http://www.seeker.com/forget-tatooine-this-exoplanet-has-three-suns-1771144810.html">RELATED: Forget Tatooine, This Exoplanet Has THREE Suns</a>

There are other mysteries as well: Why the star system has so much hydrogen and helium, instead of elements such as iron and oxygen (which is common in stars that host planets.) And why the stars are not identical twins, but have different compositions -- which could show that one star gobbled baby planets early in its childhood.

A study based on the research will be published in The Astronomical Journal.

"This is of interest because Jupiter's gravitational pull was likely a huge influence on our solar system's architecture during its formative period. So the scarcity of Jupiter-like planets could explain why our home system is different from all the others found to date."The stars are about 360 Earth-sun distances (or astronomical units) from each other, which is very close for a binary star system with planets. The next-closest star set is about 1,000 AU apart.<a href="http://www.seeker.com/forget-tatooine-this-exoplanet-has-three-suns-1771144810.html">RELATED: Forget Tatooine, This Exoplanet Has THREE Suns</a>There are other mysteries as well: Why the star system has so much hydrogen and helium, instead of elements such as iron and oxygen (which is common in stars that host planets.) And why the stars are not identical twins, but have different compositions -- which could show that one star gobbled baby planets early in its childhood.A study based on the research will be published in The Astronomical Journal.

Space & Innovation

Tatooine's Got Nothing On This Star System

Image: Artist's conception of a binary star system with three huge planets; one star has two planets associated with it, and the other star has one planet.

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Tatooine's Got Nothing On This Star System

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