1.   In summary the binary consists of two compact stars of not dissimilar mass moving in tight eccentric orbits.

2.   The spacecraft enters into a more eccentric orbit, however the height and position of perigee remains the same.

3.   But its highly eccentric orbit would most likely disrupt the orbits of any Earth-like planets in the system.

4.   But nearly all of the known planets around other stars travel in highly eccentric orbits and even those with super-Jupiter masses are found much closer to their stars.

5.   Planet hunter George Gatewood of the University of Pittsburgh is not convinced, arguing that highly eccentric orbits would be very unusual in a system such as this.

6.   Schultz suggests that the object has an extremely eccentric orbit, spending only a little time close enough to the star to have a detectable effect on its motion.

7.   Theorists have proposed several possible explanations for such eccentric orbits.