English

RedDots: Multiplanet system around M dwarf GJ 887 in the solar neighborhood

Earth and Planetary Astrophysics 2026-02-11 v2

Abstract

GJ 887 is a bright M dwarf in the solar neighborhood with two currently reported nontransiting exoplanets with periods of 9 d9~\mathrm{d} and 21 d,21~\mathrm{d,} along with an additional unconfirmed signal at 50 d50~\mathrm{d}. We reanalyzed the system with 101 new HARPS and 12 new ESPRESSO radial velocities (RVs) secured with a cadence to confirm or refute the origin of the 50 d50~\mathrm{d} signal. To do so, we searched for signals related to stellar activity in photometric data and spectroscopic indicators. We modeled the stellar activity in the RVs with Gaussian processes (GPs). With the Bayesian analysis, we confirmed a four-planet model, including the two previously known planets at periods of 9.2619±0.0005 d9.2619\pm0.0005~\mathrm{d} and 21.784±0.004 d,21.784\pm0.004~\mathrm{d,} as well as two newly confirmed exoplanets: an Earth-mass planet, with a 4.42490±0.00014 d4.42490\pm0.00014~\mathrm{d} period and a sub-meter-per-second amplitude, and a super-Earth with a 50.77±0.05 d50.77\pm0.05~\mathrm{d} period located in the habitable zone (HZ). This super-Earth is the second closest planet in the HZ, after Proxima Cen b. We found an additional signal in a 2:1 resonance with the 4.4 d4.4~\mathrm{d} planet at 2.21661±0.00010 d2.21661\pm0.00010~\mathrm{d} with an amplitude of 0.37±0.09 m/s0.37\pm0.09~\mathrm{m/s}, which could be related to an additional planet. However, other explanations of its origin are also plausible. This signal remains a candidate, as further investigation is required to confirm its true nature. If the signal is caused by a planet, its minimum mass would be half that of Earth. We measured the stellar rotation period with the characteristic periodic timescale of the GP. We found a period of 38.7±0.5 d38.7\pm0.5~\mathrm{d}, which is consistent with the rotation period determined from photometry and other activity indices.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2602.08929,
  title  = {RedDots: Multiplanet system around M dwarf GJ 887 in the solar neighborhood},
  author = {C. Hartogh and S. V. Jeffers and S. Dreizler and J. R. Barnes and C. A. Haswell and F. Liebing and A. Collier Cameron and P. Gorrini and F. Del Sordo and P. Cortés-Zuleta},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2602.08929},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

Accepted 23 December 2026