Astronomers have identified four small exoplanets orbiting Barnard's Star, each with a mass between 20% and 30% of Earth's. These planets complete their orbits in just a few days, suggesting they are likely too hot to support life. However, their discovery represents a significant advancement in detecting smaller planets around nearby stars.

The research, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, highlights the increasing precision of modern observational instruments. "This is an exciting discovery—Barnard's Star is one of our closest neighbors, yet there's still much to learn about it," said Ritvik Basant, a Ph.D. student at the University of Chicago and lead author of the study.

This study builds upon a previous finding from November, which had detected strong evidence for one planet and potential signs of others. The latest research was conducted in collaboration with scientists from the Gemini Observatory, NOIRLab, Heidelberg University, and the University of Amsterdam.