A new study from Yale University, published on May 14, 2025, offers a novel approach to identifying 'twin' planetary systems within binary star systems, providing valuable insights into planet formation. These systems, where two stars orbit each other, present a unique opportunity for comparative studies, much like how doctors study human twins.
The research highlights that specific 'edge-on' orientations of these twin star systems are particularly useful. These configurations allow astronomers to conduct comparative analyses of planet formation in similar environments. By examining these systems, scientists can gain a better understanding of how deterministic, or orderly, the process of planet formation truly is.
Malena Rice, an assistant professor of astronomy at Yale, emphasizes that this method provides an unprecedented way to examine the orderliness of planet formation. The study identified nearly 600 edge-on binary star systems using data from the European Space Agency's Gaia DR3 catalogue. This research, supported by the Dorrit Hoffleit Undergraduate Research Scholarship program and the Heising-Simons Foundation, suggests promising locations for finding and comparing planets across different star systems.