Center of image contains two oblong blue ovals that intersect, representing mutual orbit of two brown dwarfs in the horizontal plane. Perpendicular to these, and crossing both, is a larger red oval representing a planetary orbit in the vertical plane. This illustration is intended to show the planet in a polar orbit around the two brown dwarfs, known as a "circumbinary" orbit.

Discovery Alert: A Possible Perpendicular Planet

The Discovery A newly discovered planetary system, informally known as 2M1510, is among the strangest ever found. An apparent planet traces out an orbit that carries it far over the poles of two brown dwarfs. This pair of mysterious objects – too massive to be planets, not massive enough to be stars – also orbit … Continue reading Discovery Alert: A Possible Perpendicular Planet

NASA Science