A new study has shed light on what exoplanets might look like, revealing a significant population of rocky super-Earths in distant orbits. The researchers used the transit and radial velocity methods to discover these planets, which are likely to be more similar to Jupiter’s orbit than Earth’s.
In contrast to our own Solar System, exoplanet populations are expected to be diverse due to various discovery biases. Traditional methods have focused on planets that orbit close to their host star, limiting our understanding of what might exist in distant orbits.
The study investigated “microlensing” events, where a planet acts as a gravitational lens that magnifies its star’s light. This phenomenon can indicate the presence of planets in more distant orbits and has provided valuable insights into exoplanet populations.
Results from this research suggest a substantial number of rocky super-Earths are traveling in orbits similar to Jupiter and Saturn. These findings highlight the importance of expanding our discovery methods to include exoplanets in more distant orbits.
The study’s results challenge existing knowledge about exosolar systems, which has been heavily influenced by observations of planets close to their host star. This new understanding will help scientists better comprehend the diversity of exoplanet populations and potentially reveal hidden worlds beyond our Solar System.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/04/new-study-there-are-lots-of-icy-super-earths