The highest I found so far is Castor, a sextuple star system. And there doesn't seem to be any other sextuple star system within at least 100 light-years...
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asked Sep 25, 2014 at 20:52
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6$\begingroup$ Are you asking if they theoretically can exist or if they have been observed. $\endgroup$– BMSCommented Sep 25, 2014 at 22:27
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2 Answers
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Here are the systems I found:
6:
ADS 9731
Beta Tucanae
Gamma Velorum
Kappa Tauri
Mu Sagittarii
... no physical multiple stars of greater multiplicity yet found.
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1$\begingroup$ Note, though, that both AR Cassiopeiae and Nu Scorpii are over the 100 light-year limit OP requested. $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 26, 2014 at 2:00
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$\begingroup$ @KyleKanos I believe that they all are, I didn't realize there was a limit. I had assume that the OP had referenced a list that only extended out to 100 ly, so he may not care how far the stars actually are. $\endgroup$– LDC3Commented Sep 26, 2014 at 2:08
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$\begingroup$ From an astrophysics point of view, I don't care about distances either, the dynamics of an $n$-tuple system is amazingly beautiful to even consider. From an astronomy point of view, resolving such a system might be nice & having close examples to study the system would allow that. So it really depends on your interests whether such an (arbitrary) limit matters. $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 26, 2014 at 2:13
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$\begingroup$ That said, OP states within at least 100 light-years... which indicates he is interested in the distance of the stars. $\endgroup$ Commented Sep 26, 2014 at 2:13
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$\begingroup$ And of course one could believe in 8 stars - it would be the same three hierarchical separations as in 5-, 6-, and 7-star systems. But 9 stars would require 4 separate scales, which is rather more difficult to believe would ever happen. $\endgroup$– user10851Commented Sep 26, 2014 at 8:06
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Sextenary: Castor Beta Tucanae 88 Tauri 65 Ursae Majoris HD 139691 Beta Scorpii HD 79506 WDS J19406+1355
Septenary: Nu Scorpii
Octonary: Gamma Cassiopeiae (unconfirmed)
Nonary: None
