Scientists discovered UPM J1040−3551 AabBab, a rare quadruple star system in the Milky Way Galaxy. It is the First such configuration ever recorded.

About quadruple star system: It  is a stellar system consisting of four stars gravitationally bound, orbiting a common center of mass.

About the Discovery

• The System contains: 
  • Two young red dwarf stars.
  • Two cold T-type brown dwarfs orbiting them.

About Red and Brown dwarfs

• Red dwarfs are low-mass stars that sustain hydrogen fusion, while brown dwarfs are substellar objects too low in mass to sustain hydrogen fusion.
• T-type brown dwarfs are cool, faint substellar objects with methane absorption in their spectra.

About Brown Dwarfs

• Definition: These are celestial bodies that are bigger than a planet but smaller than a star
• Formation: Formed like stars (from collapsing gas clouds) but lack mass to sustain hydrogen fusion Atmospheres. 
• Nickname: Called “failed stars” due to absence of continuous nuclear fusion.
• Atmosphere: It resembles gas giants (Jupiter, Saturn).
• Mass: Can reach 70× Jupiter’s mass.
• Why Hard to Detect?
• • Cold and faint, emit almost no visible light.
  • Best detected when part of a multiple-star system with brighter companions.

Importance of Studying Brown Dwarfs

• Help refine models of stellar and planetary formation.
• Reveal atmospheric chemistry relevant to gas giant exoplanets.
• Contribute to understanding the abundance of baryonic matter in the galaxy.

Significance of the Discovery

• First quadruple system with two brown dwarfs around two stars.
• Statistically Rare occurrence: Chances of low-mass brown dwarfs having companions is <5%.
• Provides a natural laboratory to study brown dwarfs alongside brighter stars.
• Contributes to understanding:
  • Star and planet formation conditions.
  • Distribution of mass in the universe (brown dwarfs as part of baryonic matter vs. dark matter).

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