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Discovery of a New Super Earth Challenges Our Understanding of Planetary Systems

A group of international astronomers, spearheaded by Weicheng Zang from the Centre for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (Cfa), has made a groundbreaking discovery: a planet that is twice the size of Earth, orbiting its star at a distance beyond that of Saturn. This significant finding highlights the diversity of planetary systems beyond our own and was published in the Journal Science on April 25, 2025. The data for this research was collected from the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet), which is recognized as the largest microlensing survey to date.

This newly identified Super Earth, categorized as larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune, is pivotal as it forms part of an extensive study measuring the masses of numerous planets relative to their host stars. According to physics.org, researchers involved in the study have unveiled fresh insights regarding the multitude of planets surrounding the Milky Way galaxy.

Study by KMTNet

The research utilized data from KMTNet, which employs a microlensing technique to amplify light from distant celestial objects through the gravitational effects of intervening bodies, like planets. This method is particularly effective for detecting planets positioned at substantial distances, notably within the range between Earth and Saturn’s orbit.

This extensive study involved discovering approximately three times more planets than previously known, including those up to eight times smaller than earlier microlensing discoveries. Shude Mao, a professor affiliated with the research, remarked that the current findings suggest new theories regarding the formation of cold planets. The insights gained from KMTNet’s data enhance our understanding of how these planets are formed and develop over time. KMTNet operates three telescopes located in South Africa, Chile, and Australia, contributing significantly to this research effort.

Understanding the Exoplanets

Research like this indicates that various other systems may host small, medium, and large planets, similar to the diversity found in Earth’s orbit. The findings from Cfa-led studies imply the potential existence of additional Super Earths in the outer regions of other solar systems. Jennifer Yee notes that there is a plausible chance that beyond Earth’s trajectory, other galaxies may contain planets that surpass Earth’s size yet remain smaller than Neptune.

Findings and Implications

Youn Kii Jung, who manages KMTNet, points out that planetary systems with Jupiter-like orbits might not necessarily mirror our own. Ongoing efforts will aim to quantify how many such planets exist in the universe. Current evidence suggests that the number of super-Earths is at least comparable to that of Neptune-sized planets, raising intriguing questions about the nature and distribution of planets throughout the cosmos.

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