A new planet discovered near Earth

At 6 light-years from Earth, a discovery is shaking up astronomy. A new planet, Barnard b, has been detected orbiting a red dwarf star. Less massive than Earth and quite inhospitable, this exoplanet raises questions. It completes an orbit around its star in just 3 Earth days.

Barnard's star, located in the constellation Ophiuchus, is only a short distance from our Solar System. This proximity makes the search for exoplanets like Barnard b easier. The discovery was made possible by observations from the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile.


The VLT, thanks to its ability to detect the wobbles of stars under the influence of planets, confirmed the presence of this new exoplanet. In fact, Barnard b is about twenty times closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. With a surface temperature of 257°F (125°C), the presence of liquid water seems unlikely on Barnard b. However, its close proximity to the star gives hope of detecting planets that are farther away and more hospitable.

This exoplanet stands out due to its low mass, placing it among the few detected planets whose mass is lower than that of Earth. This characteristic particularly interests astronomers, as it might reveal potentially habitable environments. The data gathered also paves the way for other discoveries, enriching our understanding of planetary systems and the mechanisms that govern their evolution.

Astronomers estimate that there could be at least three more exoplanets orbiting Barnard's star. These hypotheses are based on detected gravitational variations, which suggest the presence of other celestial bodies. To validate these signals, additional observations will be necessary in the coming years.

Moreover, the upcoming arrival of the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) promises to revolutionize our ability to observe exoplanets. With its 128-foot (39-meter) diameter mirror, the ELT will be one of the most powerful optical telescopes ever built. This equipment will not only allow us to observe even more distant celestial objects but also provide unprecedented details about the atmospheres of these far-off worlds.

Thus, the discovery of Barnard b marks an important milestone, but it is only the beginning. Many low-mass planets remain to be discovered in our cosmic "backyard."

What is an exoplanet?

An exoplanet is a planet that orbits around a star other than our Sun. First discovered in 1995, these planets located outside our Solar System have garnered significant interest. To date, around 5,700 exoplanets have been identified thanks to advanced detection methods.

The radial velocity method is one of the most common techniques for discovering exoplanets. When a planet orbits its star, it creates a slight wobble due to gravitational attraction. This wobble is measured based on variations in the spectrum of light emitted by the star.