Gliese 486, also known as Wolf 437, is a M-type main-sequence star in the constellation

Virgo Virgo may refer to: *Virgo (astrology), the sixth astrological sign of the zodiac *Virgo (constellation), a constellation *Virgo Cluster, a cluster of galaxies in the constellation Virgo *Virgo Stellar Stream, remains of a dwarf galaxy *Virgo Supe ...

. Its surface temperature is 3340 K. Gliese 486 is similar to the Sun in its concentration of heavy elements, with a

metallicity In astronomy, metallicity is the abundance of elements present in an object that are heavier than hydrogen and helium. Most of the normal physical matter in the Universe is either hydrogen or helium, and astronomers use the word ''"metals"'' as a ...

Fe/H index of 0.07. It was suspected to be a

flare star A flare star is a variable star that can undergo unpredictable dramatic increases in brightness for a few minutes. It is believed that the flares on flare stars are analogous to solar flares in that they are due to the magnetic energy stored in th ...

, although measurements available in 2019 did not reveal any flares. The chemical makeup of the star is unremarkable and consistent with solar abundances or being slightly metal-poor. The star has an unremarkable magnetic field in the chromosphere of about 1.6

kilogauss The gauss, symbol (sometimes Gs), is a unit of measurement of magnetic induction, also known as ''magnetic flux density''. The unit is part of the Gaussian system of units, which inherited it from the older CGS-EMU system. It was named after th ...

. It is rotating very slowly and is likely to be very old, belonging kinematically to the old thin disk of the Milky Way. Multiplicity surveys did not detect any stellar companions to Gliese 486 as at 2020.

Planetary system

In 2021, one planet, named , was discovered on a tight, circular orbit. It represents a rare class of rocky exoplanet suitable for spectroscopic characterization in the near future by the

James Webb Space Telescope The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a space telescope which conducts infrared astronomy. As the largest optical telescope in space, its high resolution and sensitivity allow it to view objects too old, distant, or faint for the Hubble Spa ...

. As in 2022, no hydrogen or steam dominated atmosphere was detected, although secondary planetary atmosphere with the higher molecular weight remains a possibility. In August 2022, this planetary system was included among 20 systems to be named by the third

NameExoWorlds NameExoWorlds (also known as IAU NameExoWorlds) is the name of various projects managed by the International Astronomical Union (I.A.U.) to encourage names to be submitted for astronomical objects, which would later be considered for official ad ...

project.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gliese 486 Virgo (constellation) Planetary transit variables M-type main-sequence stars Planetary systems with one confirmed planet J12475664+0945050 0486 062452 TIC objects

1827 Events January–March * January 5 – The first regatta in Australia is held, taking place on Tasmania (called at the time ''Van Diemen's Land''), on the River Derwent at Hobart. * January 15 – Furman University, founded in 1826, b ...