In a remarkable scientific development, a latest research paper has announced the discovery of a new planet. This discovery was made possible using the Radial Velocity method and is orbiting one of the closest stars to our Sun, Barnard’s star. This potential rocky celestial body has been named Barnard’s star b.
About Barnard’s star
Barnard’s star is remarkably close to us, at a distance of almost 6 light years. It’s the second nearest star to the Sun following the triple system Alpha Centauri, which includes Alpha Centauri A, B, and C (also referred to as Proxima Centauri). Barnard’s star belongs to a category of faint, low-mass stars termed as red dwarfs. These red dwarfs have become the optimal locations for the search of exoplanets, or in simpler terms, planets outside our Solar System.
Introducing Barnard’s star b
Identified as a ‘Super-Earth’, Barnard’s star b, is massive with its mass being at least 3.2 times that of Earth. Its orbital period around Barnard’s star is 233 days. The term Super Earth defines a planet that is more massive than Earth but less so than larger planets such as Uranus or Neptune. Remarkably, after Proxima b (discovered in 2016), orbiting the red dwarf star Proxima Centauri, Barnard’s star b is the second-closest known exoplanet to our Sun.
Why is Barnard’s star b Significant?
This newly discovered planet is situated at a certain distance from the star within a region known as the ‘snow line’. Beyond the habitable zone where liquid water, and possibly life, could exist is where the snow line resides. The surface temperature of this planet is roughly estimated around -170°C, suggesting a likely frozen world scenario. Therefore, these conditions may not be conducive to Earth-like life. However, with a viable atmosphere, it could present higher temperatures making conditions possibly more hospitable.
Facts About Barnard’s Star B
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type of Planet | Super-Earth |
| Mass | 3.2 times that of Earth |
| Orbit Period | 233 days |
| Surface Temperature | -170°C |
| Potential Atmosphere | Yes, if existing, could render more hospitable conditions |
Radial Velocity Method: A Tool for Discovery
The research team utilized the Radial velocity method, also known as Doppler spectroscopy, in their observations that led to the discovery of Barnard’s star b. This technique identifies the wobbles or fluctuations in a star which are likely induced by the gravitational pull of an orbiting planet. These wobbles influence the light coming from the star. As the star moves towards the Earth, its spectrum appears slightly shifted towards blue and as it retreats, it is shifted towards red. This is a pivotal achievement as this method has been used for the first time to detect a planet this small situated so far from its host star.
