Three Potential Super-Earths Discovered Around Star 55 Light-Years from Earth
Astronomers led by Dr. Shweta Dalal discovered three "super-Earth" exoplanets orbiting HD 48498, one potentially habitable. Using HARPS-N, they found planets with 5 to 11 Earth masses, offering insights into distant planetary systems.
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A team of astronomers, led by Dr. Shweta Dalal from the University of Exeter, has discovered three potential "super-Earth" exoplanets orbiting the nearby star HD 48498. These planets, with orbits of 7, 38, and 151 Earth days, include one in the habitable zone where liquid water could exist. The discovery, made using the HARPS-N Rocky Planet Search program, marks a significant step in finding habitable planets around Sun-like stars. The study, published in MNRAS, details the identification of these planets with masses ranging from 5 to 11 times that of Earth. The proximity of the star and the favorable orbit of the outermost planet make this system a promising target for future studies. Dr. Dalal emphasized the importance of advanced techniques and long-term monitoring in uncovering distant star system secrets. This discovery provides new insights into planetary systems and the potential for life beyond our solar system.
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