China's giant FAST telescope discovered a rare three-star system named PSR J0435+3233 on October 9, 2026. The system includes a pulsar, a white dwarf, and a sunlike star. Scientists said this unique setup could help them test big ideas about gravity and learn more about how different stars actually evolve.
China's giant FAST telescope has spotted something pretty wild in space, a rare trio of stars called PSR J0435+3233.
This system features a pulsar, a white dwarf, and a sunlike star, all at different life stages.
The discovery, confirmed by Chinese and European scientists, was published on October 9, 2026.
The find started when astronomers noticed the pulsar slowing down way faster than usual, about 100 times faster than others like it.
Digging deeper with radio, optical, infrared, and gamma-ray tools, they realized a third star's gravity was behind the weird timing.
Turns out, the pulsar and white dwarf orbit each other every eight days while the sunlike star takes about 73.5 years to complete its loop.
This unique setup could help scientists test big ideas about gravity and learn more about how stars evolve.