Astronomers Discover Rare Quadruple Star System

In August 2025, astronomers made a groundbreaking discovery: a rare quadruple star system called UPM J1040−3551 AabBab.

Located 82 light-years away in the constellation Antlia, this system features an unusual configuration.

It consists of two pairs of stars orbiting one another: two M-type red dwarf stars and two cold T-type brown dwarfs.

Because brown dwarfs, often called "failed stars," are notoriously difficult to study due to their dimming over time, this system acts as a perfect cosmic laboratory.

The red dwarf pair is significantly brighter, while the T-type brown dwarfs emit almost no visible light, requiring detection through infrared technology.

Data from the Gaia satellite and NASA’s WISE mission led to this identification, which was later confirmed by the SOAR telescope in Chile.

Published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, this discovery offers a unique opportunity to understand the evolution of stellar bodies across our universe.