Researchers Hint Existence of 'Star-Wars' Like Planet In The Universe

Earth-like, solid planets, like Tatooine - which is part of a binary star system, explaining for the double sunset - likely exist and may be widespread across the Universe, according to a new research.

"Our main result is that outside a small region near a binary star, [either rocky or gas-giant] planet formation can proceed in much the same was as around a single star," the researchers wrote in the study. "In our scenario, planets are as prevalent around binaries as around single stars."

"Tatooine sunsets may be common after all," the team added.

Researchers in the study, used complex mathematical formulas to describe how binary stars can be orbited by planetesimals - asteroid-sized rocks that clump together to form planets.

Up until now, researchers believed that planets like Earth could not form around most binary stars - at least, not close enough to support life. The reason being planetismals have to merge together gently in order to grow. But around a single star, most planetismals follow a circular orbit in which their paths do not cross, making it difficult for them to merge.

The new research has now found that if planets start out in an oval-shaped - not circular - orbit, they won't smash into each other and will settle into orbits that foster planet formation.

The study was published in the journal Astrophysical Journal.