New analysis confirms a planet in the habitable zone of nearby star Gliese 725 B

Star system: Struve 2398 A | Distance from the Sun: 11.5 light years

Using a sophisticated new technique to clean up astronomical data, researchers have successfully confirmed the presence of a two-planet system orbiting the nearby red dwarf star Gl 725 B, located just 11.4 light-years away. 

The study utilized the WAPITI method to remove 'noise' caused by Earth's own atmosphere, allowing for a much clearer view of the planets' gravitational tugs. The results verify the existence of a 'Super-Earth' with 3.5 times the mass of our world, situated comfortably within the star's habitable zone where liquid water could exist. A smaller, inner planet was also recovered in the data. 

This breakthrough proves that even with the interference of our own atmosphere, we can precisely measure the properties of neighboring worlds that might support life.

Scientific study

The SPIRou Legacy Survey: Detection of a nearby world orbiting in the habitable zone of Gl725B achieved by correcting strong telluric contamination in near-infrared radial velocities with WAPITI (external link)