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Titanium Oxide Kept Proxima's Long Clock

A molecular absorption index recovered an approximately 2,873-day activity period from HARPS spectra of Proxima Centauri.

Published Updated Story ID: mp-2026-08-15-007
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Summary

A molecular absorption index recovered an approximately 2,873-day activity period from HARPS spectra of Proxima Centauri.

The analysis compares the strength of a titanium-oxide band near 567 nanometers with adjacent continuum in long-running HARPS spectroscopy. It finds a periodicity of 2,873 days, with an uncertainty of roughly plus 47 and minus 54 days, similar to activity periods inferred from other indicators. The paper presents the molecular index as a proxy for long-term stellar variation, not a new planet signal.

Why it matters

A molecular absorption index recovered an approximately 2,873-day activity period from HARPS spectra of Proxima Centauri.

Limits and context

  • The paper presents the molecular index as a proxy for long-term stellar variation, not a new planet signal.

Key claims

  1. A molecular absorption index recovered an approximately 2,873-day activity period from HARPS spectra of Proxima Centauri.

    Qualification: The paper presents the molecular index as a proxy for long-term stellar variation, not a new planet signal.

    Evidence: source-2026-08-15-007

Sources

  1. arXiv preprint 2608.12686arXiv · primary research

Corrections

No corrections have been recorded for this story.