New Habitable Zone Planet Found in Unusual Star System

The newly discovered planet, identified by volunteer planet hunters and confirmed by scientists at the Flatiron Institute and their colleagues, has an exceptionally long orbit. This discovery provides valuable insights into planetary formation and stability within multi-star systems.

Astronomers and citizen scientists have identified a planet within the habitable zone of a unique star system that comprises two stars and possibly an additional exoplanet.

The planet hunters spotted the Neptune-like planet as it crossed in front of its host star, temporarily dimming the star’s light in a way akin to a solar eclipse on Earth. This ‘transit method’ usually identifies planets with tight orbits, as they are more likely to follow paths that put them between Earth and their host star and, when following such paths, move into light-blocking positions more frequently. That’s why this newly discovered planet is considered unusually far out, with the planet taking 272 days to lap its star. Furthermore, the star is now by far the brightest one known to host a transiting planet in the habitable zone where liquid water can exist.