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Re:'Mathematically perfect' star system being investigated f... by mapt on Wednesday February 28, 2024 @11:22AM (#39540064)
This is dynamically unstable; Any miniscule imperfection ends up being magnified by the forces involved. The angular momentum of the system is conserved, but resonances build chaotically and are likely to eventually concentrate enough in a smaller body to throw it off past escape velocity.

Spaced-out resonant triplets of bodies in the same plane are often dynamically stable - an imperfect ratio is damped by various orbital forces until it approximates a perfect ratio.

Re:'Mathematically perfect' star system being investigated f... by SamBam on Wednesday February 28, 2024 @11:42AM (#39540425)
That's why it would require alien technology to keep it perfect.

Why they'd do this, though, would be a mystery.

Re:'Mathematically perfect' star system being investigated f... by fullstackchris on Wednesday February 28, 2024 @11:57AM (#39540672)
seems like it'd be a primitive way (in one way, obviously not in the tech sense) of displaying power
Re:'Mathematically perfect' star system being investigated f... by BirAdam on Wednesday February 28, 2024 @12:08PM (#39540815)
So, like, the aliens elected a lizard version of Donald Trump? Make the planets gold and it all tracks.
Re:'Mathematically perfect' star system being investigated f... by SamBam on Wednesday February 28, 2024 @12:42PM (#39541261)
Perhaps it's just a giant advertising billboard.