can there be more stars in a system than a trinary star system?

Question

i know that there are binary and trinary star systems, but can there be even more in a system? if so does anybody know the maximum?

Answer 1

Yes there are....these systems can be very complex, and it isn't uncommon for one of the members to be booted out eventually.

Two very good (and very visible) multiple star systems are Castor and Capella. Castor consists of six members in which three pairs of stars orbit each other (see the animation orbits at www.solstation.com).

Capella is another multi component star. The brighter pair are G type subgiant stars that are each twice as massive as our sun and are separated by a distance equal to that from the sun to Venus (about 0.75 AU). They in turn are orbited by a faint pair of red dwarf stars at an average distance of 11,000 AU's (0.17 light years).

These are just a couple....there are many more out there, and that doesn't include brown dwarf companions.

Answer 2

Add to swilliamrex's list the double binary Epsilon Lyra which can be resolved with a medium powered telescope.

Answer 3

There can be more, at least in theory; but such systems become increasingly unstable and are unlikely to survive long enough to be observed.

Answer 4

All there planets might want to ought to have the same orbital era yet its a possibility, merely very not likely. Due the the definition of a planet (thanks Pluto) they might want to sparkling there orbit thoroughly, so the planets can by no skill have an interseting orbit. it would want to truthfully be one hell of a balancing act.

Answer 5

There can be more, but such cases are extremely rare.