Scientists from the University of Alicante (Spain) have been able to observe that the HD 64315 binary star system has a more complex structure than previously thought. It turned out that two binary systems represented by massive stars reside in it.
HD 64315 is the main ionizing source of the galactic region Sh2-311. Located at a distance of 16,000 light years. The new study examined more than 50 spectra, where they revealed powerful signatures of at least four components.
These are two binary systems, one of which overshadows the second. They are separated by 500 a. e. The orbital period of HD 64315 AaAb is 2.7 days. Both stars by mass are 10-30 times greater than solar. Darkening HD 64315 BaBb makes a revolution in a day and reaches 14.6 solar masses. It was also possible to find out that the components of the first group are much hotter.
It is possible that previously HD 64315 was a compact cluster, where most of the mass was concentrated in the observed double objects. Scientists also stressed that this is a massive hierarchical system, formed in rather unexpected conditions. It therefore needs further study.