A multiplanet system of super-Earths orbiting the brightest red dwarf star GJ 887

S. V. Jeffers, S. Dreizler, J. R. Barnes, C. A. Haswell, R. P. Nelson, E. Rodríguez, M. J. Lopez-Gonzalez, N. Morales, R. Luque, M. Zechmeister, S. S. Vogt, J. S. Jenkins, E. Palle, Z. M. Berdinas, G. A. L. Coleman, M. R. Diaz, I. Ribas, H. R. A. Jones, R. P. Butler, C. G. TinneyJ. Bailey, B. D. Carter, S. ~O'Toole, R. A. Wittenmyer, J. D. Crane, F. Feng, S. A. Shectman, J. Teske, A. Reiners, P. J. Amado, G. Anglada-Escude, .

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Abstract

The closet exoplanets to the Sun provide opportunities for detailed characterization of planets outside the Solar System. We report the discovery, using radial velocity measurements, of a compact multiplanet system of super-Earth exoplanets orbiting the nearby red dwarf star GJ 887. The two planets have orbital periods of 9.3 and 21.8 days. Assuming an Earth-like albedo, the equilibrium temperature of the 21.8-day planet is ~350 kelvin. The planets are interior to, but close to the inner edge of, the liquid-water habitable zone. We also detect an unconfirmed signal with a period of ~50 days, which could correspond to a third super-Earth in a more temperate orbit. Our observations show that GJ 887 has photometric variability below 500 parts per million, which is unusually quiet for a red dwarf.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1477-1481
Number of pages5
JournalScience
Volume368
Issue number6498
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 26 Jun 2020

Keywords

  • astro-ph.EP

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