Low-mass exoplanet HD 126053 b discovered around nearby solar-type star

Star system: Gliese 75 | Distance from the Sun: 32.7 light years

A new low-mass planet, HD 126053 b, has been confirmed orbiting a solar-type star located within 25 parsecs (approximately 81.5 light-years) of the Sun. This planet completes an orbit around its host star every 10.91 days. The discovery was made using extreme precision radial velocity instruments, which detect the tiny wobbles in a star's position caused by the gravitational pull of orbiting planets. This method allows for the identification of small, low-mass worlds that were previously difficult to detect.

The research also investigated HD 168009 b, a known planet orbiting a different solar-analog star. By analyzing the radial velocity signals—the shift in light caused by the star's movement—researchers were able to distinguish between the signal created by the planet and the signal caused by the natural rotational activity of the star, which can often mimic the presence of an orbiting companion.

Furthermore, the study examined periodic variations in the star HD 10780. The findings suggest that these variations result from a combination of the star's rotation and a long-term stellar activity cycle. Because HD 126053 is exceptionally quiet in its radial velocity measurements, it remains a primary candidate for future efforts to find smaller, rocky planets within the habitable zones of stars.

Key findings
- Detection and confirmation of the low-mass planet HD 126053 b with an orbital period of 10.91 days.
- Characterization of HD 168009 b alongside a 27.8-day signal attributed to stellar rotation.
- Analysis of HD 10780 showing combined effects of rotation and long-term activity cycles.
- Identification of HD 126053 as an ideal, quiet target for finding habitable-zone exoplanets.

Scientific study

The NEID Earth Twin Survey. VI. Discovery of a Low-Mass Planet Orbiting HD 126053 and RV Signals Near the Rotation Periods of HD 168009 and HD 10780 (external link)