Description
The meter-per-second precision achieved by today velocimeters enables the search for 1-10M_{earth}_ planets in the habitable zone of cool stars. This paper reports on the detection of 3 planets orbiting GJ 163 (HIP19394), a M3 dwarf monitored by our ESO/HARPS search for planets. We made use of the HARPS spectrograph to collect 150 radial velocities of GJ 163 over a period of 8 years. We searched the RV time series for coherent signals and found 5 distinct periodic variabilities.We investigated the stellar activity and casted doubts on the planetary interpretation for 2 signals. Before more data can be acquired we concluded that at least 3 planets are orbiting GJ 163. They have orbital periods of Pb=8.632+/-0.002, Pc=25:63+/-0.03 and Pd=604+/-8 days and minimum masses msini=10.6+/-0.6, 6.8+/-0.9, and 29+/-3, respectively. We hold our interpretations for the 2 additional signals with periods P(e)=19.4 and P(f)=108 days.
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