Planetary systems fall into 2 distinct families, astronomers say

Astronomers studying planetary systems in the Milky Way have found they can be sorted into 2 families. These families are largely determined by the host star.

Astronomers say they’ve studied 300 of the best-characterized planetary systems in the Milky Way and have discovered they fall into 2 distinct families. Science news, night sky events and beautiful photos, all in one place.

Planetary systems fall into 2 distinct families Astronomers from the International Space Science Institute said on October 13, 2026, that planetary systems appear to fall into one of two families depending on their home star. After studying 300 of the best-characterized planetary systems in the Milky Way galaxy, they found that less massive stars tend to form planetary systems that are smaller in mass and width but with more planets.

The researchers published their study in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Astronomy on October 13, 2026. The 2 types of families The researchers said that a planetary system’s host star appears to determine how its planets form and evolve.

The amount of material in the cloud of gas and dust that forms the star influences what type of planetary family results. This results in planets that are more massive, though fewer in number.

Sorting planetary systems Co-author Diego Turrini of the International Space Science Institute said: The fundamental question we started from was: What determines the characteristics of planetary systems as we see them today? .

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