A possible major planet has been identified less than a dozen light - old age from Earth . While its world is yet to be confirmed , if it is real this may be the closest planet known outside the solar system . Moreover , a number of feature would make this a particularly prize breakthrough among thenearly 2,000 so far announced .
Gliese 15 , also known as Groombridge 34 , is a twain of red dwarf stars lying just 11.7 light - years away inAndromedaand visible with binoculars . The stars are 147AUapart — almost five times the distance of Neptune from the Sun — leaving plenty of room for planet to orb either star without being affected by the other .
The smart of these two stars , known as Gl 15 A , has been reported inThe Astrophysical Journalas being orbited by a satellite around 5 Earth masses — almost certainly make it a “ superearth , ” a rocky planet with a mass enceinte than our own , rather than a flatulence hulk like Neptune .
Before anyone gets too excited , the major planet is almost certainly not habitable . With an orbital flow of 11 daytime , even around such a dim star , the temperature is thought to be above 100 ° light speed . Moreover , Gl 15A is separate as avariable star — even if the average temperature was more comfortable , frequent flare would likely fix the surface . Still there isexcitement athaving a planet close-fitting enough to examine in item .
mistrust exoplanets have been reported around several of the nearest stars includingAlpha Centauri B , pretty much as close as a planet outside the solar system can be . However , these remain unconfirmed , and the evidence is often consider less honest than in this font . So it is at least potential that Gl 15Ab , as the new find has been dub , is the nighest known planet outside the solar system . It is highly unlikely , however , to be the closest that exists . Gl 15 is the16th closeststar arrangement to our own . render what we arelearning about how vulgar planets are , it ’s a safe bet there are quite a few planets waiting to be found around the closer objects .
It might be expect that the first major planet we would find out are those around the nearest stars . However , other attempt at planet finding using theradial velocity methodskipped over red gnome , and most of the more late finds have depended on the satellite ’s orbitintercepting our direct air to its star , boot out a large portion of planets near and far .
Gl 15Ab was key out by a squad led by Dr. Andrew Howard of the University of Hawaii who are using the Keck Observatory to lead a nosecount of planets around stars within 80 short - days , including many neglected in previous studies . They ’re using radial velocity , watching for wobbles in the motion of the parent genius due to the gravitation of its planet .
Planets in binary systems conjure up image ofTatooine ’s twin sunset , but even if Gl 15Ab was suitable for liveliness its dweller would just know their star had a companion , with GL 15b being a one-quarter as bright asan Iridium flare .
