A 4-star system caught eclipsing itself in a way never seen before

A 4-star system, TIC 433545934, has been found to eclipse itself in a way never seen before. The system consists of two close pairs of stars, with each pair orbiting itself and the other pair. The study confirms that the two pairs are gravitationally bound, forming a 2+2 quadruple star system. The researchers observed a rare event where the entire binary pairs eclipse each other, creating a "three-dipped" eclipse. This is the first confirmed 2+2 quadruple star system that shows both synchronized eclipse timing and mutual eclipses. The study was published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.

• The system has two inner pairs of stars, A and B, with orbital periods of 1.41 and 2.07 days, respectively.
• The full four-star system takes about 224.5 days to orbit itself.
• The two pairs are significantly different: Pair A consists of two closely matched, slightly aged stars; Pair B has a more massive star that dominates its companion.
• The outer orbit of the system is elongated, which explains the asymmetry in the eclipsing events.
• The study relied on archival sky-survey data and TESS observations, with some uncertainties in mass estimates due to lack of radial velocity data.

This discovery provides a unique example of a 2+2 quadruple star system, offering insights into how multiple stars can form stable, bound systems. The findings could help improve models of star formation and gravitational interactions in multi-star systems. The system is considered a first-of-its-kind object, surpassing a similar candidate, KIC 5255552, which lacked equally robust confirmation. The study highlights the complexity of multi-star systems and the importance of precise observational data in confirming such phenomena.

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