Exoplanets have now been discovered in both binary- and triple-star systems, several of them with stars close enough to affect significantly the dynamics of the planetary system. An initial study of y Cephei, with a giant planet in an eccentric orbit around a relatively close binary, reveals that the stability of small bodies in the system is extremely complex and provides possible locations for additional planets and planetesimals. A zone of stability is also seen around the secondary star, the habitability and observational properties of which are considered. Subsequently, a mixed-variable symplectic integration scheme is developed specifically for planetary orbits in hierarchical triple stellar systems.
展开▼
