Astronomers have discovered a unique quadruple star system named UPM J1040−3551 AabBab, featuring two cold brown dwarfs orbiting a pair of young red dwarf stars — a configuration never observed before.
Brown dwarfs, often called “failed stars,” are too small to sustain hydrogen fusion and are usually solitary. Their presence in a hierarchical four-body system offers a rare opportunity to study their formation, composition, and evolution.
Because brown dwarfs emit little light, they’re hard to detect, but observing them alongside brighter stars helps scientists determine their age, temperature, and chemical makeup. This discovery provides a valuable laboratory for understanding stellar formation and the complex dynamics of multi-star systems.
