Jupiter-like planets might be common in a low-density environment

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 14; no. 1; p. 6232
• Main Authors: Gratton, Raffaele, Mesa, Dino, Bonavita, Mariangela, Zurlo, Alice, Marino, Sebastian, Kervella, Pierre, Desidera, Silvano, D’Orazi, Valentina, Rigliaco, Elisabetta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 17.10.2023; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 639/33/34/862; 639/33/34/867; Astrometry; Density; Extrasolar planets; Humanities and Social Sciences; Jupiter; multidisciplinary; Planet formation; Planets; Radial velocity; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Solar neighborhood; Solar system; Stars; Surveys; Velocity
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41665-0

Radial velocity surveys suggest that the Solar System may be unusual and that Jupiter-like planets have a frequency < 20% around solar-type stars. However, they may be much more common in one of the closest associations in the solar neighbourhood. Young moving stellar groups are the best targets for direct imaging of exoplanets and four massive Jupiter-like planets have been already discovered in the nearby young β Pic Moving Group (BPMG) via high-contrast imaging, and four others were suggested via high precision astrometry by the European Space Agency’s Gaia satellite. Here we analyze 30 stars in BPMG and show that 20 of them might potentially host a Jupiter-like planet as their orbits would be stable. Considering incompleteness in observations, our results suggest that Jupiter-like planets may be more common than previously found. The next Gaia data release will likely confirm our prediction. Models predict that giant planets should easily form around solar-type stars, but most radial velocity surveys found a rather low number of them. Here, the authors show that Jupiter-like planets may be more common than previously found, at least in low density environments.