Discovery and Characteristics
Astronomers confirmed an exoplanet, named , orbiting Barnard's star, the closest solitary star to the Sun, using the 's Very Large Telescope.
Barnard b, smaller than Earth and with a mass about half that of , orbits its star every three days, making it too hot for liquid water or life as we know it.
Future Exploration and Findings
The discovery hints at more low-mass planets in our cosmic vicinity and suggests at least three more exoplanet candidates around Barnard's star, pending further observation.
Barnard's star, despite its dimness, has been a target for exoplanet searches for decades, with previous signals misinterpreted due to stellar activity, highlighting the challenges in confirming planetary existence.