Astronomers have confirmed the existence of a massive planet in the Nu Octantis binary star system, first suspected in 2004. Using advanced tools like the HARPS spectrograph, researchers found that the planet orbits in the opposite direction of one of the stars—a retrograde motion that keeps the system stable. The discovery of a white dwarf in the system adds complexity to the planet’s origin, suggesting it either shifted from a former orbit or formed from stellar debris. This breakthrough challenges traditional ideas of planetary formation in binary systems.
