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- Exoplanets with masses similar to Earth<\/strong> are common in our galaxy.<\/li>\n
- These planets are especially common around low-mass stars<\/strong> such as red dwarfs, researchers in Germany said in a new study. Could any of them support life?<\/li>\n
- The discovery of four new small exoplanets<\/strong> around red dwarfs will help astronomers in their search for such planets that could be habitable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Searching for small planets like Earth<\/h3>\n
Small, low-mass stars like red dwarfs are the most common type of star in our galaxy. And astronomers have also found many exoplanets orbiting them. On June 27, 2025, a new study led by Heidelberg University in Germany said that small planets similar in mass to Earth are especially common around red dwarfs. The astronomers used the CARMENES spectrograph system at the Calar Alto Observatory in Spain to observe 15 stars. They found four new exoplanets ranging from 14 times Earth\u2019s mass to only 1.03 times the mass of Earth.<\/p>\n
The CARMENES spectrograph is ideal for detecting exoplanets around low-mass red dwarf stars. These stars are all cooler, smaller and less massive than our sun. Their masses range from about 1\/10 to 1\/2 that of the sun.<\/p>\n
The results will help astronomers in their search for habitable planets around red dwarf stars. And some of these smaller worlds do orbit in their stars\u2019 habitable zones, where liquid water could be possible on their surfaces.<\/p>\n
The researchers published their peer-reviewed results in Astronomy & Astrophysics<\/em> on April 8, 2025.<\/p>\n
Observing 15 low-mass stars<\/h3>\n
For the new study, the researchers used a catalog of 2,200 low-mass red dwarf stars. They chose 15 of those for additional observations with CARMENES. This kind of star is smaller, less massive and cooler than our sun. In addition, they are the most common type of star in the Milky Way.<\/p>\n
Astronomers already knew that exoplanets are quite common around such stars. But for this study, they focused on rocky planets similar to Earth in size and mass.<\/p>\n
![\"White](\"https:\/\/earthsky.org\/upl\/2025\/07\/Calar-Alto-Observatory-CARMENES-Spain-January-22-2003.jpg\")
The Calar Alto Observatory in Spain uses the CARMENES instrument for exoplanet observations. Image via Jorgechp\/ Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n 4 new exoplanets<\/h3>\n
The research team found four new exoplanets altogether. Their masses ranged from 14 times that of Earth to only 1.03 Earth masses. All four planets \u2013 similar to many others around red dwarfs \u2013 orbit very close to their stars. Their orbital periods ranged from 1.43 to 5.45 days. That\u2019s way faster than even Mercury orbits the sun!<\/p>\n
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CARMENES Data: Earth-like Planets Especially Common Around Low-mass Stars \u2013 Studies of 15 M-stars offer new insights into the presence of exoplanetswww.uni-heidelberg.de\/en\/newsroom\/\u2026<\/p>\n
\u2014 Universit\u00e4t Heidelberg (@uniheidelberg.bsky.social) 2025-06-27T13:35:01.391Z<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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CARMENES Data: Earth-like Planets Especially Common Around Low-mass Starsastrobiology.com\/2025\/07\/carm\u2026 #astrobiology #exoplanet #astronomy #biosignature #genomics #biochemistry<\/p>\n
\u2014 Astrobiology (@astrobiology.bsky.social) 2025-07-01T16:25:15.588Z<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Low-mass planets for low-mass stars<\/h3>\n
Previous studies have also shown that low-mass planets are more common around low-mass stars than more massive planets. For example, stars with less than 0.16 solar masses have an average of two planets with less than three Earth masses. Adrian Kaminski at the K\u00f6nigstuhl Observatory, part of the Centre for Astronomy of Heidelberg University, is the lead author of the new study. He said:<\/p>\n
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It is quite remarkable how often small planets occur around very low-mass stars. Larger planets, on the other hand, are rarer. This suggests that low-mass stars tend to form smaller planets in close orbits.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
![\"Group](\"https:\/\/earthsky.org\/upl\/2025\/07\/Extrasolar-Planet-Group-Landessternwarte-Konigstuhl-Heidelberg-University-2019.jpg\")
The Extrasolar Planet Group at Landessternwarte K\u00f6nigstuhl at Heidelberg University. Adrian Kaminski, lead author of the new study about exoplanets around low-mass red dwarf stars, is 3rd from left in the back row. Image via Landessternwarte K\u00f6nigstuhl\/ Heidelberg University.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The search for life<\/h3>\n
If this kind of planet is common, then the question arises as to whether any of them could support life. One problem is that red dwarfs tend to have strong solar flares. This can endanger the atmospheres of any planets orbiting close to them.<\/p>\n
One advantage, however, is that these planets are often in the stars\u2019 habitable zones. That\u2019s the region where temperatures could allow liquid water to possibly exist. The planets do tend to orbit close to their stars. However, because the stars are smaller and cooler than our sun, that also means the habitable zones are closer to the stars. And, indeed, many of these low-mass planets do orbit within the habitable zones of their stars. Andreas Quirrenbach, director of the Heidelberg-K\u00f6nigstuhl State Observatory in Germany, said:<\/p>\n
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Small, rocky planets in the so-called habitable zone \u2013 the area around a star where water could exist in liquid form \u2013 are potential candidates for habitable worlds. Since M-dwarfs are very common and radiate their energy constantly into space over billions of years, they could provide stable environments for the development of life.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Bottom line: A team of astronomers led by Heidelberg University in Germany have found small planets like Earth are common around small, low-mass red dwarf stars.<\/p>\n
Source: The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs<\/p>\n
Via Heidelberg University<\/p>\n
Read more: Exciting! 4 new mini-Earth exoplanets at nearby star<\/p>\n
Read more: Habitable exoplanets could exist around nearby stars<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n
\n - These planets are especially common around low-mass stars<\/strong> such as red dwarfs, researchers in Germany said in a new study. Could any of them support life?<\/li>\n