Scientists have combined modern spacecraft data with vintage observations to piece together a 125-year-long story of the antics of a nearby triple-star system dubbed HS Hydra — and predict its future.
When the first of those observations were made, in 1893, HS Hydra was just another star twinkling in the heavens. Now, it's a strange, dynamic system — and one that may have a few more surprises in store.
Astronomers may soon unearth those surprises, thanks to NASA's
Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). And scientists think this spacecraft, better known for discovering alien worlds, could unveil similar mysteries in bright but seemingly humdrum binary star systems, according to research presented at the 237th meeting of the
American Astronomical Society, held virtually this week due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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