Four exoplanets found orbiting our nearby star, Barnard's Star.

      International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/P. Marenfeld

      Currently, researchers frequently find exoplanets, or planets located outside our solar system. Occasionally, however, a noteworthy discovery occurs, such as finding an exoplanet in close proximity to us — specifically, a recent observation revealing that Barnard’s Star, our closest stellar neighbor, may harbor as many as four exoplanets. It is more common for scientists to detect large planets orbiting close to their bright stars, as these are easier to observe using exoplanet detection techniques. However, Barnard’s Star is different; it is classified as a red dwarf, a prevalent type of cool, low-mass star. Since red dwarfs are abundant in our galaxy, scientists are eager to study the types of planets they may host, as these could be promising locations in the search for signs of life.

      The latest findings increase the known number of exoplanets orbiting Barnard’s Star from one to at least three, potentially four, as researchers utilized the MAROON-X instrument on the Gemini North telescope to confirm the presence of planets that were previously considered only potential candidates.

      “It’s an incredibly exciting discovery — Barnard’s Star is our celestial neighbor, yet our knowledge about it is quite limited,” stated lead author Ritvik Basan from the University of Chicago. “This marks a significant advancement in the precision of these new instruments compared to earlier ones.”

      Historically, Barnard’s Star has been viewed as the “great white whale” for exoplanet hunters because despite its proximity at a mere six light-years away, its small size and dimness make it challenging to confirm the existence of exoplanets. In this instance, two independent research teams using different instruments both detected indications of exoplanets, bolstering their conviction in their existence.

      “We conducted observations at various times over different nights. They were in Chile; we were in Hawai‘i. Our teams did not coordinate at all,” Basan explained. “This provides us with substantial confidence that these are not simply artifacts in the data.”

      The four planets thought to be orbiting Barnard’s Star are quite small, measuring only 20 to 30% of Earth’s mass, and they orbit very closely to the star, resulting in a year that lasts just a few days by Earth's standards. Additionally, it is more challenging for researchers to detect these small planets compared to larger gas giants which exhibit more pronounced effects.

      “The U.S. National Science Foundation is partnering with the astronomy community on a mission to delve deeper into the Universe to identify planets with possibly Earth-like environments,” stated Martin Still, NSF program director for the International Gemini Observatory. “The planetary discoveries made possible by the MAROON-X instrument on Gemini North represent a significant stride in that adventure.”

      This research has been published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

      Georgina has been the space writer for Digital Trends for six years, covering human space exploration, planetary...

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