Meet Barnard b, the chilly neighbor circling Barnard’s star, one of our closest stellar neighbors just over five light-years away. Discovered in 2024 thanks to the super-sensitive ESPRESSO spectrograph at the Paranal Observatory, Barnard b was found using the clever radial velocity method, which detects the star’s tiny wobbles caused by this planet’s gravitational tug. While it’s a bit of a cosmic wallflower—cold and likely rocky—Barnard b is an exciting addition to our local exoplanet family. Imagine a world caught in the gentle sway of a very old, faint star, orbiting quietly in the cosmic backyard, reminding us that fascinating planets can be found right next door!
