Space & Astronomy

Planets like Tatooine with two suns may be the norm, study finds

By T.K. Randall
May 1, 2026 ·  5 comments

Image: AI-generated (Midjourney) According to a new study, solar systems with two or more stars may actually be more efficient at producing planets than single-star systems, meaning that planets such as Tatooine in Star Wars may be more commonplace that planets like the Earth with only one.

For years, it was believed that systems with more than one star were too chaotic for planets to form, but now it seems that this is only true of the inner parts of such systems, not the outer parts.

For the study, lead author Matthew Teasdale of the University of Lancashire, and colleagues, used computer simulations to model the protoplanetary discs of multi-star systems.The inner region too unstable for planetary formation was designated "the danger zone".

"What we're finding is that [multi-star systems] can actually be extremely productive," said Teasdale.

"Once you get past the danger zone, planets can form quickly and in large numbers."

The findings help to solve the mystery of how planets can form in such systems despite the turbulent conditions.

Source: Space.com | Comments (5)

Tags: Star, Solar System