Super-Earths in Jupiter-like Orbits Are More Common Than Expected, New Study Finds

A recent study from the Centre for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) suggests that super-Earth exoplanets—planets about twice the size of Earth—are more common than previously believed in orbits similar to Jupiter’s. The discovery was made using the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet), the largest microlensing survey conducted to date.

By using the microlensing technique, which involves the gravitational magnification of light from distant objects by intervening bodies like planets, researchers were able to detect planets located between the orbits of Earth and Saturn. The findings indicate that super-Earths, orbiting at distances similar to Jupiter’s, are more prevalent than thought, suggesting that planetary systems may contain a wider variety of planets, including those in Jupiter-like orbits.

The study proposes that super-Earths are likely more numerous than Neptune-sized planets in the Milky Way, challenging previous models of planetary formation and evolution. It underscores the significance of microlensing surveys in helping us better understand the diversity of exoplanetary systems.