Unusual red dwarf system detected

Astronomers have just confirmed the existence of two planets orbiting in very different orbits in the red dwarf system (called the GJ 15 system).

The GJ 15 system is 11.6 light-years away. This system consists of two weak red dwarfs, orbiting each other with a period of about 2,600 years. The distance between these two red dwarfs is 147 astronomical units (1 astronomical unit is approximately equal to the distance from the Earth to the Sun). The larger star (GJ 15A) has a mass of 0.38 solar mass, while the smaller star (GJ 15B) - 0.15 solar mass.

As early as 2014, astronomers suspected that around one of these two stars there were exoplanets (planets outside the Solar System). However, additional observations denied the existence of these exoplanets. It is not until 2019 that, thanks to accurate observation technology, astronomers can confirm that there are two exoplanets in the GJ 15 system . Both exoplanets orbit around the dwarf GJ 15A and have the names GJ 15Ab and GJ 15 Ac respectively.

The GJ 15 A subsystem is very strange, because the exoplanet GJ 15Ab orbits very close to the host star (with an 11.4-day cycle; at a distance of approximately 10.5 km), while GJ 15 Ac spins with a cycle. about 20 years, on a distance of approximately 5.4 astronomical units.

The exoplanet GJ 15 Ab is about 3 times the mass of Earth. This is a super-terrestrial 'hell' exoplanet. Meanwhile, GJ 15 Ac has a mass greater than 35 times the mass of our planet. As such, this exoplanet can be thought of as an object like Saturn or Neptune.

Currently, astronomers do not detect any objects between GJ 15 Ab and GJ 15 Ac. It is possible that there are other exoplanets in this region as well. It is also likely that the shape of the GJ 15 A subsystem is the result of many orbital changes, in which 'planet-like' objects have been thrown out of the system.

The GJ 15 A subsystem shows that around red dwarfs there may also be exoplanets at great distances. Of course, most of the exoplanets have yet to be discovered.

1. Find a strange source for the red dwarf
2. Science is confused with the big planet "strange story" surrounding the red dwarf