Planets of binary stars: Targets in the search for alien life

Planetary systems around stars the size of our sun are obvious targets for astronomers trying to locate extraterrestrial life forms, and nearly every second star in that category is a binary star. New research from Denmark and the University of Michigan indicates that planetary systems are formed in a very different way around binary stars-two stars gravitationally bound to each other-than around single stars such as the sun. The researchers began observing the binary star system NGC 1333-IRAS2A in an attempt to understand the fundamental aspects of the births of stars and planetary systems, says study co-author Edwin Bergin , professor and chair of the U-M Department of Astronomy. "We were trying to peer as close as we could to the most luminous star in the binary-the primary star-and observe the beginnings of planetary system formation, and we got it, but in a different way,” Bergin said. "The result that we have has something to do with how planetary systems form, and it's that the binary star system can influence planetary formation tremendously. Jes Kristian Jørgensen , professor of astrophysics and planetary science at the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen and principal investigator of the study, says the result can also help aid in the search for extraterrestrial life. "The result is exciting since the search for extraterrestrial life will be equipped with several new, extremely powerful instruments within the coming years,” he said.