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A team of international astronomers, lead by Weicheng Zang of the Centre for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (Cfa), reported the finding of a planet twice the size of Earth that circles its star at a greater distance than Saturn. These discoveries show how planets differ from our current solar system. The discovery was initially reported in the journal Science on April 25, 2025. Scientists obtained this information from the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet), which is the biggest microlensing study ever conducted.
This Super Earth, dubbed a planet since it is larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune, is more noteworthy because it is the result of a major research in which the masses of several planets were estimated compared to the stars they circle. According to physics.org, the team of researchers discovered new information regarding the number of planets that orbit the Milky Way.
Study by KMTNet
According to a research based on Korean Microlensing data, light from distant objects is magnified utilizing an intervening body known as a planet. This method is particularly useful for locating planets at great distances, such as those between Earth and Saturn's orbit.
This research is deemed enormous for its kind since it contains three times as many planets, including planets eight times smaller than those previously discovered via microlensing. According to Professor Shude Mao, current evidence provides insight into how cold planets arise. KMTNet data can help us understand how these planets arose and developed. KMTNet operates three telescopes in South Africa, Chile, and Australia.
Understanding the exoplanets
Such investigations demonstrate that other systems can contain a small, medium, or high number of planets in Earth's orbit. According to CFA-led study, other solar systems' outer regions may include more Super Earth Planets. According to Jennifer Yee, other galaxies outside of Earth's orbit may include more of these planets that are larger than Earth but less than Neptune.
Results and Implications
According to Youn Kii Jung, the operator of KMTNet, other planetary systems in Jupiter-like orbits may differ from our own. Scientists will try to figure out how many such planets exist. According to one research, the cosmos has at least as many super-Earths as it does Neptune-sized planets.
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