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The Most Compact Quadruple Star System Ever Found episode artwork

Mar 15, 2026 33 min

The Most Compact Quadruple Star System Ever Found

from Bedtime Astronomy Hosted by Synthetic Universe

Astronomers have discovered one of the most compact multi-star systems ever observed: TIC 120362137. This rare 3+1 quadruple system packs four stars into a region roughly the size of Jupiter’s orbit. Using observations from Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), researchers achieved the first direct spectroscopic detection of all four stars in such a configuration. Their nearly flat orbital alignment suggests they formed together from a single primordial disk. Though stable today, scientists predict the inner trio may eventually merge, leaving behind a white dwarf binary—offering new clues about how complex star systems form and evolve. Thank you for listening to Bedtime Astronomy — your guide to the cosmos. New episodes on space exploration, NASA missions & the latest astronomy breakthroughs. This episode includes AI-generated content.

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The Most Compact Quadruple Star System Ever Found

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This episode was published on March 15, 2026.

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