Turkish scientists discover star system that challenges conventional formation theories

esearchers from Istanbul University and Akdeniz University have uncovered surprising details about the CN Lyn star system that defy established models of star formation.

Unlike most multi-star systems, the three stars in CN Lyn appear to have formed at different times, a discovery that upends conventional theories.

The breakthrough, supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TUBITAK) and Istanbul University’s Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (IU BAP), was achieved by combining data from the TESS and Gaia space telescopes with observations from ground-based instruments. The study reveals that while the two primary stars in CN Lyn are approximately 4 billion years old, a third star—nearly 10 times more metal-poor and estimated to be 12.5 billion years old—joined the system later. This halo star, originating from the galactic halo, was captured after the main system formed near the edge of the Milky Way’s disk, about 50,000 light-years from the galactic center.

Professor Selcuk Bilir from Istanbul University explained, “While studying binary star systems, one stood out. New data prompted us to reanalyze it, and we discovered that CN Lyn’s third star is extremely metal-poor compared to the others. This extreme difference suggests that the system formed in an unexpected way.” He added that the findings illustrate a dynamic universe where even established systems can be altered by gravitational interactions.

Professor Volkan Bakis of Akdeniz University, who analyzed a decade’s worth of data, confirmed the existence of the third celestial body. “This third star follows a 37 light-minute orbit, affecting the movement of the binary stars and delaying the light we receive,” Bakis said, emphasizing the significance of the discovery.

Researchers also noted that traditional star formation theories generally assume that stars within a system form from the same molecular cloud at roughly the same time. “Our interdisciplinary approach shows that not all multi-star systems follow this same creation process,” remarked Neslihan Alan, a researcher at Istanbul University. Gokhan Yucel, another team member, stressed the uniqueness of the system: “No other system like this exists in the literature,” confirming that the third star is both chemically distinct and one of the oldest in the universe.

Remziye Canbay further explained that while the primary stars of CN Lyn formed in a relatively metal-poor region, the third star’s age and composition indicate it originated during the early formation of our galaxy and was later captured by the system’s gravitational pull.

The findings, introduced to the scientific community for the first time by Turkish astrophysicists, open new avenues for understanding star formation and the evolution of multi-star systems. This discovery not only reshapes current astrophysical models but also highlights the dynamic processes at play in our galaxy.

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