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Astronomers have made a fascinating discovery near Earth. They have found not just one, but four small planets orbiting Barnard’s Star. This star is the second-closest star system to Earth, making it an exciting area of study. Scientists say these planets are tiny, with masses between 20% and 30% of Earth’s.
Tiny planets in fast orbits
These newly detected planets move extremely fast. They complete an orbit around their star in just a few days. This suggests they are too close to their sun and likely too hot to support life. However, the discovery is important for understanding how small planets form around nearby stars.
"It's an exciting find—Barnard's Star is close to us, yet we know so little about it," said Ritvik Basant, a PhD student at the University of Chicago and lead author of the study. He explained that this discovery marks progress in planet detection, thanks to advanced instruments.
The research supports a previous study from November, which first hinted at planets orbiting Barnard’s Star. The new findings, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, confirm the presence of multiple planets.
A century of searching for planets
Barnard’s Star has fascinated astronomers for more than a century. It was first identified in 1916 by astronomer E. E. Barnard. Scientists have long suspected it might host planets. Unlike the nearest star system, Proxima Centauri, which has three stars, Barnard’s Star is a single-star system, similar to our own.
Scientists are particularly interested in Barnard’s Star because it is an M dwarf star, a type that is common in the universe. Understanding the planets around such stars helps researchers learn more about planetary systems beyond our own.
How the discovery was made
Detecting planets around distant stars is extremely difficult. These planets are too small and faint to be seen directly. Instead, scientists look for the effect they have on their stars.
A research team, led by University of Chicago professor Jacob Bean, used an instrument called MAROON-X. This device, attached to the Gemini Telescope in Hawaii, measures tiny shifts in a star’s light caused by the gravitational pull of orbiting planets. These shifts allow scientists to determine the number and size of planets.
The discovery of four planets around Barnard’s Star marks an important step in planet hunting. Researchers hope future studies will reveal even more details about these distant worlds.
