Polar Orbits Around Binary Stars

TL;DR

This paper critiques a proposed new class of stable planetary orbits around binary stars, arguing that their stability claims are based on flawed assumptions and would have observable consequences if they existed.

Contribution

The paper challenges previous claims about polar orbits around binary stars by analyzing the applicability of the effective potential used.

Findings

The proposed orbits rely on an inappropriate effective potential.

Such orbits would produce detectable torques in satellite motion.

The existence of these orbits is empirically unsupported.

Abstract

Oks proposes the existence of a new class of stable planetary orbits around binary stars, in the shape of a helix on a conical surface whose axis of symmetry coincides with the interstellar axis. We show that this claim relies on the inappropriate use of an effective potential that is only applicable when the stars are held motionless, and that the existence of the torques required to maintain the proposed orbits would have been empirically detected in the motion of artificial satellites in high-inclination orbits.