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Abstract We have discovered a triply eclipsing triple-star system, TIC 290061484, with the shortest known outer period,Pout, of only 24.5 days. This “eclipses” the previous record set byλTauri at 33.02 days, which held for 68 yr. The inner binary, with an orbital period ofPin= 1.8 days, produces primary and secondary eclipses and exhibits prominent eclipse timing variations with the same periodicity as the outer orbit. The tertiary star eclipses, and is eclipsed by, the inner binary with pronounced asymmetric profiles. The inclinations of both orbits evolve on observable timescales such that the third-body eclipses exhibit dramatic depth variations in TESS data. A photodynamical model provides a complete solution for all orbital and physical parameters of the triple system, showing that the three stars have masses of 6.85, 6.11, and 7.90M⊙, radii near those corresponding to the main sequence, andTeffin the range of 21,000–23,700 K. Remarkably, the model shows that the triple is in fact a subsystem of a hierarchical 2+1+1 quadruple with a distant fourth star. The outermost star has a period of ∼3200 days and a mass comparable to the stars in the inner triple. In ∼20 Myr, all three components of the triple subsystem will merge, undergo a Type II supernova explosion, and leave a single remnant neutron star. At the time of writing, TIC 290061484 is the most compact triple system and one of the tighter known compact triples (i.e.,Pout/Pin= 13.7).
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This content will become publicly available on May 26, 2026
The Discovery of Two Quadruple Star Systems with the Second and Third Shortest Outer Periods
Abstract We present the discovery of two quadruple star systems—TIC 285853156 and TIC 392229331—each consisting of two bound eclipsing binary stars. Among the most compact quadruples known, TIC 392229331 and TIC 285853156 have the second and third shortest outer orbital periods (145 days and 152 days, respectively) after BU Canis Minoris (122 days). We demonstrate that both systems are long-term dynamically stable despite substantial outer orbital eccentricities (0.33 for TIC 285853156 and 0.56 for TIC 392229331). We previously reported these systems in V. B. Kostov et al. and V. B Kostov et al. as 2 + 2 hierarchical quadruple candidates producing two sets of primary and secondary eclipses in TESS data, as well as prominent eclipse timing variations on both binary components. We combine all available TESS data and new spectroscopic observations into a comprehensive photodynamical model, proving that the component binary stars are gravitationally bound in both systems and finding accurate stellar and orbital parameters for both systems, including very precise determinations of the outer periods. TIC 285853156 and TIC 392229331 represent the latest addition to the small population of well-characterized proven quadruple systems dynamically interacting on detectable timescales.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2206814
- PAR ID:
- 10646887
- Publisher / Repository:
- The Astrophysical Journal
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- The Astrophysical Journal
- Volume:
- 985
- Issue:
- 2
- ISSN:
- 0004-637X
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 213
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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