Barnard's Star: Four Exoplanets Confirmed Near the Sun on 2024

Astronomers have confirmed the existence of four exoplanets orbiting Barnard's Star, the second-closest star system to our Sun. Located approximately six light-years away in the constellation Ophiuchus, Barnard's Star has long been a subject of interest for scientists seeking exoplanets. Using data from the MAROON-X spectrograph at the Very Large Telescope (VLT), researchers validated two previously identified planet candidates. Combining this information with data from the ESPRESSO instrument, also at the VLT, they confirmed a fourth planet in the system. The exoplanets range in mass from 0.2 to 0.33 times that of Earth. The outermost planet has an estimated temperature between 60 and 70 degrees Celsius, calculated based on the star's luminosity, planetary distance, and albedo. However, the actual temperature could vary depending on the atmospheric composition, which remains unknown. A planet with an orbital period of 10 to 42 days could potentially be habitable, but observations rule out the presence of any body larger than 0.6 Earth masses in that region. Barnard's Star continues to be a focal point for exoplanet research, providing insights into the diversity of planetary systems near our own.