Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery, identifying a brand-new exoplanet orbiting the nearby star GI 410. The newly discovered planet, named GI 410 b, is classified as a sub-Neptune and has a mass approximately 8.5 times that of Earth.
Using the radial velocity method, scientists detected small wobbles in the star’s motion caused by the gravitational pull of the orbiting planet. This technique, which involves observing slight changes in a star’s speed due to an orbiting world, has already helped astronomers discover over 600 exoplanets.
GI 410 b is notable for its constant radius, suggesting it does not transit or pass directly in front of its host star, making detection through traditional light-dimming methods more challenging. The planet orbits the young, low-mass star GI 410, located just 39 light years away from Earth, at a surface temperature of approximately 3,842 Kelvin.
In addition to GI 410 b, researchers also observed signs of two potential planets orbiting the star with orbital periods of 2.99 days and 18.7 days. However, further analysis and follow-up studies are needed to confirm their existence.
Source: https://www.indiatvnews.com/science/scientists-spot-sub-neptune-planet-orbiting-nearby-star-using-smart-technique-2025-04-15-985642