Four Sub-Earth Exoplanets Confirmed Around Barnard's Star

Astronomers have identified four rocky planets orbiting Earth's nearest solo star, but their proximity to the star makes them too hot to support life.

The discovery was made using the MAROON-X instrument on the Gemini North telescope and confirmed with data from the ESPRESSO instrument on the Very Large Telescope in Chile.
The planets, named Barnard b, c, d, and e, range from 19% to 34% of Earth's mass and complete their orbits in just 2.3 to 6.7 days.
All four planets orbit too close to Barnard's Star, resulting in extreme surface temperatures that preclude the possibility of liquid water and habitability.
This marks a significant achievement in detecting sub-Earth-sized exoplanets, which are among the smallest ever found using the radial velocity method.
Barnard's Star, a red dwarf located 6 light-years away, has long been a target for exoplanet hunters due to its proximity and potential for hosting rocky planets.