Planets of distant solar system orbit star in coordinated dance, say scientists

Researchers said the planets surrounding the HD110076 star orbited it in neat ratios depending on their closeness to it. Photograph: Thibaut Roger/NCCR PlanetS/PA

Six planets that orbit their star in a coordinated dance have been discovered by scientists, who say the finding could help shed light on why planets in our own solar system move to their own beat.

The newly discovered planets orbit a star that sits about 100 light years away in the constellation Coma Berenices, with a mass about 20% smaller than our Sun.