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 orbits 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. This means that astronomers now have a better understanding of the types of planets that exist outside of our own solar system.
The team plans to continue to study GJ 3512b and other exoplanets in our solar system in order to gain a better understanding of how planets form and evolve. This could help us to better understand our own solar system and the planets within it.
The discovery of GJ 3512b is an exciting one, and it is sure to lead to more discoveries in the future. With the help of powerful instruments like HARPS, astronomers are now able to detect planets that were previously too faint to be seen. This means that there could be many more exoplanets out there waiting to be discovered.