Suns set on hunt for giant planets in nearby binary system

The binary star system 70 Ophiuchi AB, or 70 Oph AB, has been the focus of a recent study by the University of Michigan. Researchers did not find any large planets in this system, but they set constraints that could help future searches for rocky planets. The study ruled out planets with the mass of Jupiter or larger in the inner regions of the system. The research was supported by NASA and used data from multiple telescopes, including the Magellan Clay Telescope and the Harlan J. Smith Telescope. The study's sensitivity allowed the researchers to determine that the observed wobble in the stars' motion was due to stellar activity, not a planet.

The study is part of a broader effort to understand planetary systems in the Milky Way. 70 Oph AB is one of the closest binary systems to Earth, at about 16 light-years away. The research also builds on a history of claims about the system, including one from 1855 by British astronomer William Jacob. The new study sets an upper limit on the presence of planets rather than a definitive ban. The research team included experts from over a dozen institutions, and the results were published in The Astrophysical Journal.

The study's findings highlight the importance of sensitive measurements in detecting exoplanets. The researchers used a century's worth of data and new observations to determine that the wobble was due to stellar activity. The study also emphasizes that while no giant planets were found, the research opens the door for smaller planets, such as Saturn-sized ones, in the system's habitable zone. The results are part of a larger effort to understand how planetary systems form and evolve, and they are relevant for future space missions targeting binary systems.

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