HOME | DD

P-Type Binary System — Description

The artistic representation of a P-type planetary system around two sun-like binary stars. In a P-type system, the planets do not orbit around one of the two binary stars, but around the common center of gravity of the entire system. Such double-star planetary systems are usually more stable than an S-type system, in which planets orbit around one of the two stars, or each of the two stars has its own planetary system.
Here, a large Jupiter-like gas giant orbits its two parent stars at a great distance. The two small moons visible in the image also orbit around their common center of gravity and both in turn orbit around the gas giant with other moons.