Four New Worlds Discovered Near Barnard’s Star

The Aerospace Pulse

In a landmark achievement for exoplanet science, astronomers have confirmed the existence of four rocky planets orbiting Barnard’s Star one of the closest stars to Earth. This discovery, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters and led by Ritvik Basant of the University of Chicago, represents a major leap forward in the detection of small, Earth-like worlds beyond our solar system.

A Stellar Neighborhood Reveals Its Secrets

Barnard’s Star, located just six light-years away, has long been a subject of fascination and controversy among astronomers. Historically plagued by false planet detections, the star now hosts a confirmed planetary system thanks to high-precision radial velocity measurements. The four planets designated b, c, d, and e are each between one-fifth and one-third the mass of Earth, making them among the smallest exoplanets ever detected at such a distance.

The Technology Behind the Discovery

The breakthrough was made possible by MAROON-X, an “extreme precision” radial velocity instrument mounted on the Gemini Telescope in Hawaii. This tool measures minute shifts in starlight caused by the gravitational tug of orbiting planets. The signals from Barnard’s Star were faint ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 meters per second, compared to the 2 meters per second of background stellar noise. To isolate the planetary signals, researchers developed detailed models of the star’s natural quakes and jitters, allowing them to subtract noise and reveal the planets’ presence.

A Step Toward Broader Horizons

While these planets may not be habitable, their detection is a promising sign for future missions aimed at finding Earth-like worlds. The success of MAROON-X and ESPRESSO (a similar instrument on the Very Large Telescope in Chile) underscores the growing capability of astronomers to probe deeper into our galactic neighborhood

Legacy and Leadership

Barnard’s Star was first cataloged in 1916 by Edward Emerson Barnard, a pioneer in astrophotography. More than a century later, it continues to inspire scientific breakthroughs. The discovery team’s work has been officially recognized by NASA, with the planets entered into the NASA Exoplanet Archive on March 13, 2025.

What We Know About the Planets

Orbital Periods

• The four newly discovered planets orbit extremely close to their host star, Barnard’s Star. The planet closest to the star completes a full orbit within one year, in just over two Earth days. In contrast, the planet farthest from the star takes slightly less than seven Earth days to complete its orbit

Habitability

• Because these planets orbit very close to Barnard’s Star, a relatively cool but still radiant red dwarf. Their surfaces are likely far too hot to sustain life. Still, their solid, rocky nature makes them excellent candidates for future scientific exploration and analysis.

Scientific Significance

• Although small, rocky planets are among the most promising places to search for signs of life, they’ve historically been the hardest to detect due to their faint gravitational effects on their host stars. This recent discovery shows that with advanced observational tools and precise data modeling, even the most subtle planetary signals can now be identified.