Il cosmic waltz of six planets, revealed 100 light years from Earth in Berenice's hair, is capturing the imagination of astronomers. The extraordinary discovery, published in Nature, highlights a planetary system with orbits so perfectly choreographed as to suggest an uninterrupted celestial dance lasting billions of years.
Berenice's Coma: the Cheops space telescope
The Florence editorial team, in collaboration with theNational Institute of Astrophysics, the University of Padua and the Italian industry, contributed crucially to this extraordinary result, thanks to the Italian "eyes" of Cheops space telescope, designed and built by Leonardo in Campi Bisenzio.
Read also:
The astrophysicist Roberto Ragazzoni, one of the architects of this extraordinary discovery, describes Cheops as a “incredibly precise telescope, capable of detecting even the smallest planets passing in front of relatively faint stars.” The planetary transit technique made it possible to reveal the planetary system around the star HD 110067, characterized by an exceptional orbital configuration and stability that has amazed experts.
An extraordinarily stable system
Called sub-Neptunians for their size, between Earth and Neptune, these six planets are in a fascinating resonance with each other, creating an extraordinarily stable system. Scientists speculate that, given their locations close to the star, they might offer favorable conditions for life. Despite the absence of concrete evidence, the stability of this system is considered a fundamental condition for it life development.
Read also:
The research continues with in-depth data analysis and new observations, while the wait is aimed at the Plato space telescope of the European Space Agency, with instruments built in Italy and the launch expected in 2026. “with plate,” Ragazzoni states enthusiastically, “swe hope to discover planets around stars similar to the Sun.” The Italian Cheops telescope has opened a new frontier in space exploration, offering exciting perspectives from the planetary system in Coma Berenice.