Can a planet have a figure-8 type of orbit around two separate stars?

Could a planet have an orbit in the shape of a figure 8 around twin (possibly binary) stars?

Mostly curious about the physical possibility of such an orbital arrangement; is it stable over a long time scale? Could both stars be different sizes (masses) and still maintain this 8-like planet orbit?

Ideally I'm going for a planet that orbits a red star and a small bluish/white star; it would have effectively three seasons:

• Orbit around the red star: the "Red Season" - Hot summer like weather over the entire planet
• Crossing between the starts in the center of the figure 8: the "Transition" - the weather is cooler since the orbit is drifting away from the red star, however the planet is almost constantly bathed in light (just not as much heat)
• Orbit around the blue/white star: the "Blue (or White) Season" - effectively winter as a small dwarf type star would not have the same out put as the larger red one.

Is this at all feasible?

posted over 9 years ago

Culyx‭

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