A system of harmony and chaos
At first glance the planetary system TOI-178 may look like any other set of worlds. But a closer and more prolonged observation reveals that at least five of this system’s worlds are locked in a rhythmic dance with each other. The five outer planets exist in an 18:9:6:4:3 resonance. This means that the planets align at regular intervals as they orbit their orange dwarf host star.
This complex chain of resonance likely indicates a planetary system that has remained undisturbed by gravitational interactions or collisions with other systems since its formation. That means the system could be crucial in the study of how