A circumbinary planet is a planet that orbits two stars instead of one. Because of the close proximity and orbit of some binary stars, the only way for planets to form is by forming outside the orbit of the two stars. As of October 15, 2012, there are sixteen confirmed systems of circumbinary planets: PSR B1620-26, HW Virginis, Kepler-16, Kepler-34, Kepler-35, Kepler-38, Kepler-47, Ross 458, NY Virginis, UZ Fornacis, RR Caeli, HU Aquarii, DP Leonis, NN Serpentis, NSVS 14256825 and PH1.
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“After the planet becomes theirs, many millions of years will have to pass before a beetle particularly loved by God, at the end of its calculations will find written on a sheet of paper in letters of fire that energy is equal to the mass multiplied by the square of the velocity of light. The new kings of the world will live tranquilly for a long time, confining themselves to devouring each other and being parasites among each other on a cottage industry scale.”
—Primo Levi (1919–1987)