"Tatooine" world Kepler-16(AB)b Simulation

[APODman]

Recently it was discovered the exoplanet Kepler-16 (AB)b that orbit the two stars (Kepler-16 A and B) of the binary system that belongs:

- http://www.space.com/12963-tatooine-planet-2-suns-star-wars-kepler-16b.html

The pre print of article of the discovery can be read here:

- http://arxiv.org/abs/1109.3198


So I created the simulation of Kepler-16 (AB)b system using data from the Extrasolar Planets Encyclopaedia:

- http://exoplanet.eu/star.php?st=Kepler-16+%28AB%29#a_publi

In the simulation the two suns orbit the center of mass. The planet orbits Kepler-16 A, the most massive star.
Setting the Center of Universe in Barycenter the planet orbit looks very stable, regular and seemingly durable. Interestingly to see is the Kosai's Mechanism in action that makes the planet's orbit inclination and eccentricity varies cyclically over time.

Below the planet's orbit (in blue) as seen from "above" observed in only one revolution:



Below the orbit of the planet seen in sidewards showing the variation in inclination over  the time:



The orbit becomes very curious when we observe the simulation set Kepler-16  A like Center of Universe: every time the two suns are aligned relative to the planet, the tide effect causes an increased pull of the planet toward an inner region, the alignment ceased planet back to its original position. But when the sun Kepler 16 B, less massive, achieves its superior and inferior conjunctions it pulls on the planet caused.

Over time this causes a sinusoidal motion of the orbit of planet in both the X and Z axis, in practice its orbit becomes a spiral!



Sideways vision:



But my doubt is that simulation are correct in concern of the binary suns, if so, how are the real Center of Universe that should be chosen ?

Thanks !

[ ]´s

[vh]

 
all i can say is

nice trails