Are there any strange star systems waiting to be discovered?
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Planets orbiting very similar distances from their stars could position themselves while remaining in a globally stable configuration for billions of years – long enough to be spotted by astronomers. Such star systems could be so unlikely that they could only be created artificially, by advanced extraterrestrial civilizations.
Most planets have their orbits to themselves, but orbital mechanics allow worlds to be close enough to effectively share an orbit, forcing them into a frantic dance where they…