Astronomers Amazed to Identify ‘Cosmic Triplets’ Hiding in Plain Sight Beyond Neptune

For decades, astronomers have mopped the outer reaches of our solar system, searching for clues about its formation and evolution. The Kuiper Belt, a humongous region beyond Neptune filled with icy bodies and remnants from the early solar system, has long been a source of fascination. Among its many stunning and impeccable objects, a unique system has now captured the attention of scientists unexpectedly, stated Live Science.

A study published in ‘The Planetary Science’ Journal has spilled intriguing proof that Altjira is not just a binary system, as previously thought, but a rare hierarchical triple system—a so-called Cosmic Triplet shrouded in plain sight. If confirmed, this discovery would make Altjira only the second known triple system in the Kuiper Belt, after 47171 Lempo, stated IOP Science. Moreover, it could also change our understanding of how these distant celestial bodies originate and evolve with time. Altjira, first found in 2001, was first believed to consist of two large bodies orbiting each other at a distance of around 4,700 miles (7,600 km). Lead study author, Maia Nelsen, weighed in, "A triple system was the best fit [when comparing different modeling scenarios]...However, it is also possible that the inner body could be a ‘contact binary’ — two objects that touch each other and act as a single entity — or "something that actually is oddly flat, like a pancake."

The research team reached this conclusion after analyzing 17 years’ worth of data from the Hubble Space Telescope and Hawaii's W. M. Keck Observatory. Lowkey gravitation anomalies in the movement of the outer body highlighted that an unseen third component was there doing the deed. Another researcher, Darrin Ragozzine explained, "Over time, we saw the orientation of the outer object’s orbit change, indicating that the inner object was either very elongated or actually two separate objects." Other researchers hopped in and added, "By going beyond [assumptions], we open a new window into the shapes and spins of the components, including the ‘inner’ binaries," stated Popular Mechanics.

The discovery of Altjira’s possible three-body configuration revives interest in the long-standing 'three-body problem,' a complicated problem that describes the unpredictable nature of these celestial bodies frolicking around each other due to gravitational pull. NASA rep noted, "The puzzle of predicting how three gravitationally bound bodies move in space has challenged mathematicians for centuries," stated Live Science.

Despite the hurdles in confirming Altjira’s triple status, astronomers are glimmering with hope. The system has now entered an "eclipsing season," during which the outer body will pass in front of the inner bodies from Earth’s POV. This will occur through 2030. It will most definitely provide a precious opportunity for further experiments. On top of this, the James Webb Space Telescope is also scheduled to study Altjira, most probably providing the most definitive proof needed to confirm its classification as a triple system. Nelson remarked, "The universe is filled with a range of three-body systems…And we're finding that the Kuiper Belt may be no exception," via Live Science.