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Friday, October 2, 2026 · UTC
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Astronomers set upper limit on planets in 70 Oph AB binary system

New telescope observations have placed bounds on possible orbiting bodies, researchers reported this week.

Luisa Marconi
Senior Space Correspondent
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Astronomers set limits on planets in binary system
Astronomers set limits on planets in binary system AI illustrationhow this picture was made
Researchers have set an upper limit on planets within the 70 Oph AB binary star system. This is not an absolute ban, and other planets may still exist in the system, according to Yiting Li of the University of Michigan astronomy department.[1] The analysis used data from the 6.5 metre Magellan Clay Telescope in Chile and the 2.7 metre Harlan J. Smith Telescope in Texas.[5] Additional observations were conducted using the Kast spectrograph on Lick Observatory's Shane telescope on 21 September 2026.[2] Michael Meyer, chair of the U-M astronomy department, stated the new limit enables design of optimum search strategies for future missions.[3] 70 Oph AB is expected to be a target for NASA's Habitable World Observatory.[6] Li described the null result as a mix of disappointment and excitement, saying it opens the latest chapter on this system.[4]
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  1. Yiting Li, a postdoctoral researcher in the U-M Department of Astronomy, stated that the study sets an upper limit on planets rather than a ban, suggesting other planets may still exist in the system. · Astrobiology
  2. The observations were conducted using the Kast spectrograph on the Shane telescope at the Lick Observatory on September 21, 2026. · The Astronomer's Telegram
  3. Michael Meyer, chair of the U-M astronomy department, noted that the new limit enables the design of optimum search strategies for future missions. · Astrobiology
  4. Yiting Li, a postdoctoral researcher in the U-M Department of Astronomy, stated that the null result is a mix of disappointment and excitement because it opens the latest chapter on this historic system. · Phys.org
  5. The research utilized data from the 6.5 meter Magellan Clay Telescope at the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile and the 2.7 meter Harlan J. Smith Telescope at the McDonald Observatory in Texas. · Astrobiology
  6. The research team is part of a broader effort studying the SHERA space mission, which will focus on binary systems, and 70 Oph AB is expected to be a target for NASA's Habitable World Observatory. · Astrobiology
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