Astronomers have discovered a new exoplanet in our solar system, located about 11 light-years away from Earth. The exoplanet, named GJ 3512b, is a gas giant that is about three times the size of Jupiter and orbits a star known as GJ 3512.
The discovery was made by a team of astronomers from the University of Hertfordshire in the UK, who used the High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS) instrument at the European Southern Observatory in Chile to detect the planet.
The team found that GJ 3512b is orbiting its star at a distance of about 0.06 astronomical units (AU), which is about one-sixth the distance between Earth and the Sun. This means that the planet is located in the star’s habitable zone, where temperatures are suitable for liquid water to exist on the surface.
The team also found that GJ 3512b is a gas giant, which means it is composed mostly of hydrogen and helium. This is similar to the composition of Jupiter and Saturn in our own solar system.
The discovery of GJ 3512b is an exciting one, as it is the first exoplanet to be discovered in our solar system. It is also the closest exoplanet to Earth, making it an ideal target for future studies.
The team hopes to use the HARPS instrument to search for more exoplanets in our solar system, as well as to study the composition and atmosphere of GJ 3512b in more detail.
This discovery is an important step forward in our understanding of our solar system and the universe beyond. It is also a reminder of how much more there is to learn about the universe and the planets that inhabit it.