Astronomers have discovered four tiny planets orbiting around Barnard’s Star, the second-nearest star system to Earth. The planets, each 20-30% the mass of Earth, are extremely close to their home star and complete an orbit in just a few days. This means they may be too hot to support life.
The discovery is significant because it provides new evidence for smaller planets around nearby stars. Scientists have been searching for planets around Barnard’s Star for over a century, using instruments like the MAROON-X, developed by University of Chicago Professor Jacob Bean.
Previous studies suggested that one planet and possibly others existed around Barnard’s Star. The new study, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters on March 11, confirms the findings and sheds light on the possibility of habitable planets.
Barnard’s Star is an M dwarf star, a type found to be common in the universe. Understanding what types of planets these stars host is crucial for scientists studying the search for life beyond Earth. The discovery marks a breakthrough in finding smaller planets around nearby stars.
Source: https://news.uchicago.edu/story/study-uchicago-scientists-finds-four-tiny-planets-around-one-our-nearest-stars