VOA科学技术2023--Scientists Discover Six Planet System Orbiting in ‘Perfect Harmony’

Scientists Discover Six Planet System Orbiting in ‘Perfect Harmony’

Scientists have identified six planets orbiting a nearby star "in perfect harmony" in our Milky¹ Way galaxy². The solar system appears to be untouched by outside forces since it was created, likely billions of years ago.

The rare discovery was made by observations from a pair of space telescopes – the European Space Agency's Cheops, and Tess, operated by the American space agency NASA. The find is expected to provide astronomers⁴ with new data to help them learn more about how solar systems form and develop.

The six planets sit in the northern sky constellation⁵ of Coma⁶ Berenices, about 100 light-years from Earth. A light year is the distance light travels in a year – about 9.5 trillion kilometers.

The star the planets are orbiting is known as HD110067. It is about 20 percent smaller in mass than our sun. The six planets are about two to three times the size of Earth. But they are believed to have densities⁷ closer to gas giants in our own solar system, such as Jupiter and Saturn⁸.

The scientists say the planets are considered "sub-Neptunes." This is a common kind of planet found within our Milky Way galaxy. These planets are generally much larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune⁹.

The orbits range from nine days to 54 days. This puts them closer to their star than Venus is to our sun. It also makes the planets intensely hot. The researchers say that while only six planets were discovered, there could be more.

An international team of astronomers recently described the findings in a study that appeared in the publication Nature.

The researchers reported the six planets were in a rare condition called orbital resonance¹⁰. This is when two or more moons line up with their parent planet at regular times and interact gravitationally. In this case, the team described the solar system as completely "synchronized¹¹" in a gravitational formation. Synchronized means happening at the same time and speed.

The scientists say it is likely these synchronized orbits have been happening since the system formed about 4 billion years ago. The planets were identified by observing small drops in the star's brightness when a planet passed in front of the star.

Hugh Osborn, of the University of Bern in Switzerland, helped lead the research. He said the resonance interactions demonstrate "the mathematical beauty" of the system. Osborn added that the newly discovered system could possibly "unlock the secrets of these mysterious sub-Neptune planets, which we know so little about."

The lead writer of the study was Rafael Luque. He is an astronomer³ from the University of Chicago. He said the discovery will likely become a very useful tool to study sub-Neptunes.

Scientists have long wondered whether sub-Neptunes might be rocky planets with thick atmospheres of hydrogen and helium. They have also suggested the planets might be made of rock and ice, with warm and water-rich atmospheres.

Luque said the synchronized nature of the discovered system is highly rare and requires further study. "We think only about one percent of all systems stay in resonance, and even fewer show a chain of planets in such configuration¹²," he said. "It shows us the pristine¹³ configuration of a planetary system that has survived untouched."

Enric Palle is a researcher at the Institute of Astrophysics in the Canary Islands. He told the Associated Press that while astronomers know of 40 to 50 in-sync solar systems, none have as many planets in such perfect synchronization¹⁴ as the newly discovered one.

The University of Bern's Osborn said he was surprised but pleased when the orbital periods of the planets came close to what scientists predicted. "My jaw¹⁵ was on the floor," he said. "That was a really nice moment."

Words in This Story

harmony – n. a situation in which people are peaceful and agree with each other

interact – v. if two things interact, they have an effect on each other

chain – n. a series of things strung together in a line

configuration – n. the arrangement or pattern a group of related things appear in

pristine – adj. in very good condition

jaw on the floor – phr. a phrase used to express deep shock or surprise

1 milky   

adj.牛奶的，多奶的；乳白色的

参考例句：

• Alexander always has milky coffee at lunchtime.亚历山大总是在午餐时喝掺奶的咖啡。
• I like a hot milky drink at bedtime.我喜欢睡前喝杯热奶饮料。

2 galaxy   

n.星系；银河系；一群(杰出或著名的人物)

参考例句：

• The earth is one of the planets in the Galaxy.地球是银河系中的星球之一。
• The company has a galaxy of talent.该公司拥有一批优秀的人才。

3 astronomer   

n.天文学家

参考例句：

• A new star attracted the notice of the astronomer.新发现的一颗星引起了那位天文学家的注意。
• He is reputed to have been a good astronomer.他以一个优秀的天文学者闻名于世。

4 astronomers   

n.天文学者，天文学家( astronomer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Astronomers can accurately foretell the date,time,and length of future eclipses. 天文学家能精确地预告未来日食月食的日期、时刻和时长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Astronomers used to ask why only Saturn has rings. 天文学家们过去一直感到奇怪，为什么只有土星有光环。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 constellation   

n.星座n.灿烂的一群

参考例句：

• A constellation is a pattern of stars as seen from the earth. 一个星座只是从地球上看到的某些恒星的一种样子。
• The Big Dipper is not by itself a constellation. 北斗七星本身不是一个星座。

6 coma   

n.昏迷，昏迷状态

参考例句：

• The patient rallied from the coma.病人从昏迷中苏醒过来。
• She went into a coma after swallowing a whole bottle of sleeping pills.她吃了一整瓶安眠药后就昏迷过去了。

7 densities   

密集( density的名词复数 )； 稠密； 密度（固体、液体或气体单位体积的质量）； 密度（磁盘存贮数据的可用空间）

参考例句：

• The range of densities of interest is about 3.5. 有用的密度范围为3．5左右。
• Densities presumably can be probed by radar. 利用雷达也许还能探测出气体的密度。

8 Saturn   

n.农神，土星

参考例句：

• Astronomers used to ask why only Saturn has rings.天文学家们过去一直感到奇怪，为什么只有土星有光环。
• These comparisons suggested that Saturn is made of lighter materials.这些比较告诉我们，土星由较轻的物质构成。

9 Neptune   

n.海王星

参考例句：

• Neptune is the furthest planet from the sun.海王星是离太阳最远的行星。
• Neptune turned out to be a dynamic,stormy world.海王星原来是个有生气、多风暴的世界。

10 resonance   

n.洪亮；共鸣；共振

参考例句：

• Playing the piano sets up resonance in those glass ornaments.一弹钢琴那些玻璃饰物就会产生共振。
• The areas under the two resonance envelopes are unequal.两个共振峰下面的面积是不相等的。

11 synchronized   

同步的

参考例句：

• Do not use the synchronized keyword in Managed Objects. 不要在管理对象上使用synchronized关键字。 来自互联网
• The timing of the gun was precisely synchronized with the turning of the plane's propeller. 风门的调速与飞机螺旋桨的转动精确同步。 来自辞典例句

12 configuration   

n.结构，布局，形态，(计算机)配置

参考例句：

• Geographers study the configuration of the mountains.地理学家研究山脉的地形轮廓。
• Prices range from $119 to $199,depending on the particular configuration.价格因具体配置而异，从119美元至199美元不等。

13 pristine   

adj.原来的，古时的，原始的，纯净的，无垢的

参考例句：

• He wiped his fingers on his pristine handkerchief.他用他那块洁净的手帕擦手指。
• He wasn't about to blemish that pristine record.他本不想去玷污那清白的过去。

14 synchronization   

n.同一时刻；同步；使时间互相一致；同时性

参考例句：

• Communication record: the function supports synchronization record during the communication process. 通话录音：支持通话过程的同步录音。 来自互联网
• Synchronization is an important problem of digital audio watermarking. 同步性是数字音频水印的一个重要问题。 来自互联网

15 jaw   

n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训

参考例句：

• He delivered a right hook to his opponent's jaw.他给了对方下巴一记右钩拳。
• A strong square jaw is a sign of firm character.强健的方下巴是刚毅性格的标志。