The star, known as HD 48498, is located approximately 55 light-years away from Earth, a relatively short distance in cosmic terms. The planets orbit their star in 7, 38, and 151 Earth days, respectively.
Scientists emphasize that the farthest exoplanet is situated within the habitable zone of its star, where conditions may allow for the existence of liquid water without boiling or freezing. This region is considered ideal for potential life.
Astronomers also noted that the parent star resembles our Sun and occupies the central position in the planetary system.
Super-Earths are planets with masses greater than Earth’s but significantly less than the ice giants Uranus and Neptune in the Solar System.
The search for these planets utilized the HARPS-N Rocky Planet Search program, which measures the radial velocities of celestial bodies using the HARPS-N spectrograph. Such measurements enable the detection of even the slightest wobbles in the star caused by the planets’ orbits around it.
The masses of these potential super-Earths range from 5 to 11 times that of Earth.
Scientists speculate that this planetary system represents a promising target for future exploration.
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