is it possible for a star to orbit a planet

Introduction

The question of whether a star can orbit a planet is intriguing and challenges our understanding of celestial mechanics. Typically, we observe planets orbiting stars due to the significant mass difference between the two. However, exploring the possibility of a star orbiting a planet requires examining the dynamics of such systems and the gravitational interactions involved.

Key Insights

Planetary Transits and Radial Velocity Measurements:
- Planets orbiting stars can be detected through periodic dimming of starlight as they transit the star, causing a measurable decrease in brightness. This method has been used to identify planets like HD209458b and OGLE-TR-56b, which exhibit transit-like light curves and corresponding radial velocity changes.
- The radial velocity method, which measures the star's wobble due to gravitational pull from an orbiting planet, has been instrumental in confirming the presence of planets around stars.

Conclusion

Based on the current understanding and evidence from the research, it is not possible for a star to orbit a planet. The gravitational dynamics observed in known systems consistently show that planets orbit stars due to the significant mass difference. The methods used to detect planets, such as transit photometry and radial velocity measurements, further support this conventional understanding.

Is it possible for a star to orbit a planet

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

An extrasolar planet that transits the disk of its parent star

A 0.9 Jupiter mass object in an orbit of 0.023 au from its star causes periodic dimming of starlight, suggesting it may be a transiting planet.

Hints of a Planet Orbiting Sunlike Star

Swiss astronomers believe they have found the first evidence for a planet orbiting a sunlike star, detecting an apparent wobble in a star just outside the Great Square of Pegasus.

Three planets transiting the evolved star EPIC 249893012: a hot 8.8-M⊕ super-Earth and two warm 14.7 and 10.2-M⊕ sub-Neptunes

This study discovers a new planetary system with one super-Earth and two sub-Neptunes orbiting an evolved star, offering potential for further study on dynamical aspects.

A Transiting Planet of a Sun-like Star

The planet XO-1b transits an 11th magnitude, G1 V star in the constellation Corona Borealis, with a mass 0.90 0.07MJ and an orbital period of 3.941534 0.000027 days.

Confirmation of Earth-Mass Planets Orbiting the Millisecond Pulsar PSR B1257 + 12

The discovery of two Earth-mass planets orbiting a rapidly spinning neutron star, PSR B1257+12, constitutes the first planetary system around a star other than the sun.

Temperate Earth-sized planets transiting a nearby ultracool dwarf star

Three short-period Earth-sized planets have been observed transiting an ultracool dwarf star, with the third likely receiving significantly less irradiation than Earth.

An Earth-Sized Planet in the Habitable Zone of a Cool Star

Kepler-186f, a roughly Earth-sized planet, is in the habitable zone of a cool star, potentially allowing liquid water on its surface if it has an Earth-like atmosphere and water at its surface.

A temperate rocky super-Earth transiting a nearby cool star

LHS 1140b, a 6.6 times Earth-mass planet transiting a cool star, is within the liquid-water habitable zone and may have retained its atmosphere due to its large surface gravity and cool insolation.

A young massive planet in a star–disk system

A massive planet of mass (9.83.3)MJupiter has been detected around TW Hydrae, demonstrating that planets can form within 10 Myr, before the disk is dissipated by stellar winds and radiation.

Star-planet interactions

Dynamical tides significantly affect planetary orbits during the pre-main-sequence phase for fast-rotating stars, but have no significant effect during the red giant branch phase.

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