No Giant Planets Found in Nearby Binary System 70 Ophiuchi AB
Astronomers conducted a highly sensitive search for Jupiter-mass planets around the two stars of 70 Ophiuchi AB, about 16 light-years away. They found no large planets and placed limits on where such worlds could exist around either star. The result may help future searches focus on smaller planets in the system's habitable zones.
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The two-star system 70 Ophiuchi AB lies roughly 16 light-years away and was recognized as a binary in the late 1700s. In 1855, William Jacob proposed it as the first official exoplanet candidate, though that claim was later rejected. Later measurements still could not eliminate the chance of Jupiter-class worlds in inner regions.
A University of Michigan-led team combined a century of observations with new data from the 6.5-meter Magellan Clay Telescope and the 2.7-meter Harlan J. Smith Telescope. They concluded that stellar surface changes, not a planet, explained the apparent wobble. The study rules out Jupiter-mass or larger planets around star A within 5 AU and around star B within 0.5 AU.
Count words. First para: The(1) two-star(2) system(3) 70(4) Ophiuchi(5) AB(6) lies(7) roughly(8) 16(9) light-years(10) away(11) and(12) was(13) recognized(14) as(15) a(16) binary(17) in(18) the(19) late(20) 1700s(21). In(22) 1855(23), William(24) Jacob(25) proposed(26) it(27) as(28) the(29) first(30) official(31) exoplanet(32) candidate(33), though(34) that(35) claim(36) was(37) later(38) rejected(39). Later(40) measurements(41) still(42) could(43) not(44) eliminate(45) the(46) chance(47) of(48) Jupiter-class(49) worlds(50) in(51) inner(52) regions(53). =53. Second: A(1) University(2) of(3) Michigan-led(4) team(5) combined(6) a(7) century(8) of(9) observations(10) with(11) new(12) data(13) from(14) the(15) 6.5-meter(16) Magellan(17) Clay(18) Telescope(19) and(20) the(21) 2.7