The research findings were obtained through microlensing, an observational phenomenon that occurs when mass distorts the structure of space-time to a measurable extent. Astronomers have determined that super-Earth exoplanets are more prevalent throughout the universe than previously believed. Although it is relatively straightforward to identify planets that orbit closely to their stars, those with broader orbits can be challenging to detect. Utilizing the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet), an international group of researchers has revealed that super-Earth exoplanets are more widespread in the universe than earlier assumptions indicated, as per a recent study.
By analyzing light anomalies produced by the host star of the newly discovered planet and integrating their findings with a larger dataset from a KMTNet microlensing survey, the team concluded that super-Earths can exist at distances from their host stars comparable to the distances of our gas giants from the sun, according to Andrew Gould, co-author of the study and professor emeritus of astronomy at The Ohio State University. “Researchers were aware that smaller planets outnumber larger ones, but this study allowed us to demonstrate that within this general trend, there are notable excesses and deficits,” he stated. “This is quite intriguing.” While it is generally easier to find planets that orbit closely to their stars, those with wider orbits remain difficult to identify. Nevertheless, researchers further estimated that for every three stars, there should be at least one super-Earth with an orbital period similar to that of Jupiter, indicating that these substantial worlds are exceedingly common throughout the universe, as noted by Gould, whose early theoretical work contributed to the advancement of planetary microlensing. The results of this study were derived through microlensing, an observational effect that occurs when mass influences the structure of space-time to a detectable degree. When a foreground object, such as a star or planet, moves between an observer and a more distant star, the light from the source is bent, resulting in an apparent increase in the brightness of the object that can last anywhere from a few hours to several months.
