An international team of astronomers from the Astrophysics Institute of the Canary Islands has identified two distant worlds orbiting a nearby red dwarf, placing both within their star’s habitable zone. The discovery adds to a growing list of exoplanets found in the solar neighborhood and is part of a broader effort to understand how small, cool stars shape planetary environments across the galaxy. The planets, designated GJ 1002 b and GJ 1002 c, are described in a study that appears in a major astronomy journal, highlighting an exciting step forward in the search for potentially life-supporting worlds around nearby stars. The research emphasizes that these planets share Earthlike mass and occupy orbital regions where liquid surface water could exist given the right atmospheric conditions, making them compelling targets for future observation and characterization. The system lies about 16 light-years away from the Sun, a distance well within the reach of next generation telescopes that aim to probe atmospheric composition and surface conditions. The red dwarf itself is smaller and dimmer than the Sun, which means its habitable zone is closer to the star compared with our solar system, a detail that informs how these planets receive starlight and heat. This proximity also influences the planets’ tidal interactions, rotational dynamics, and potential climate patterns, all of which are critical for assessing long term stability and habitability. As measurements improve and models are refined, scientists will be able to constrain the planets’ orbital eccentricities, masses, and possible atmospheric properties, painting a clearer picture of what makes a world around a red dwarf resemble our own. The team has outlined a plan for continued study of GJ 1002 b and GJ 1002 c, using both archival data and upcoming observational campaigns to search for additional companions, rings, or moons that could illuminate how such systems form and evolve over time. This ongoing work feeds into a larger research agenda focused on nearby planetary systems, the diversity of planet types around different star classes, and the chances of detecting biosignature signals with future instruments. [Source attribution: Astronomy & Astrophysics study, summarized for context]
