Astronomers have identified a third planet in the planetary system of the nearby K-type star HD 176986. Previously known to host two super-Earth exoplanets, the system was studied using the HARPS and HARPS-N spectrographs. The newly detected planet is several times more massive than Earth.
The discovery was published on January 28 in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. The additional planet expands understanding of the system’s composition and dynamics.
**Why this matters**
Finding more planets in nearby star systems helps scientists better understand planetary formation and diversity. The detection of a third planet around HD 176986 provides valuable data for studying super-Earths and their characteristics. This contributes to the broader search for potentially habitable worlds beyond our solar system.
Source: NewsData