Astronomers have discovered a six-pack of planets, formed at least 4 billion years ago and remarkably unchanged since, orbiting a nearby sun-like star. The new planets, described in a paper published Wednesday in the journal Nature, could provide a breakthrough in the understanding of how planets form and why there are so many between the sizes of Earth and Neptune, a class known as “sub Neptunes” that is astoundingly common in our galaxy.
These newfound worlds are hot, gassy and unlikely to be pleasant places to visit. Their cozy orbits around the parent star put them well inside what astrobiologists consider the “habitable zone” of a planetary system. The hunt for Earth 2.0 goes on.
What makes these planets unusual, in addition to their large number, is that they are locked into a resonance with one another as they orbit the star. The fact that these six planets have been in a stable, predictable, two-by-three orbital pattern since they were formed at least 4 billion years ago is striking and rare.
The researchers have noted that it is rare for nature to reveal such gems and described HD 110067 as an astronomical Rosetta stone that could help unlock some mysteries of planet formation and evolution. The star is located in our galactic neighborhood, making it bright compared to many other stars previously known to have planetary systems.
Astronomers can study starlight for clues to the presence of otherwise invisible planets. To find the first couple of planets orbiting HD 110067 in 2020, NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) was used. The planetary roster was further filled out in 2022, and the researchers hope to uncover even more details in the future.
The discovery of these planets has left astronomers fascinated, as the universe seems to be abundant with sub-Neptune planets. The new system is exciting not because it has the potential to support life, but because of its intriguing architecture and potential to provide valuable insights into the study of planetary systems.
The new planetary system will get a close look from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope designed to glean information about the atmospheres of exoplanets. This close examination provides the opportunity to delve deeper into the mysteries of these six intriguing planets.