New Study reveals super-Earths could be prevalent around stars, according to astronomers

A recent study has revealed that super-Earth exoplanets, worlds that are larger than Earth but smaller than Uranus or Neptune, are far more common in the universe than previously believed.

ANI
Published
27 Apr 2025, 03:09 PM IST

Ohio [US], April 27 (ANI): A recent study has revealed that super-Earth exoplanets, worlds that are larger than Earth but smaller than Uranus or Neptune, are far more common in the universe than previously believed.

The discovery, made by an international team of researchers using the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet), challenges previous assumptions about the frequency and distribution of these intriguing planets.

The research team, led by astronomers from Ohio State University, Harvard University, and institutions in China and Korea, discovered that super-Earths can orbit as far from their stars as Jupiter orbits the Sun, contradicting the earlier belief that these planets are typically found only in close proximity to their host stars.

By studying light anomalies caused by gravitational microlensing, the team detected one such super-Earth, OGLE-2016-BLG-0007, which has a mass roughly twice that of Earth and an orbit wider than Saturn's.

"This study suggests that for every three stars, there is likely at least one super-Earth with a Jupiter-like orbital period," said Andrew Gould, a professor emeritus of astronomy at Ohio State University and co-author of the study, adding, "We are beginning to realize just how abundant these massive worlds are across the cosmos."

More:
https://www.livemint.com/science/news/new-study-reveals-super-earths-could-be-prevalent-around-stars-according-to-astronomers-11745746766575.html