darrelj@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Darrel VanBuer) (08/18/83)
There is believed to be a gas giant planet (i.e. half of a binary star system not big enough to ignite) around Barnard's star, but the evidence is more circumstantial than for the ring around Vega. The existence of the planet is deduced from a very slight, regular wobble in the position of Barnard's star. The amount of the wobble is barely above the noise level (imposed by atmosphere mostly), so it's presence is based in part on a long term Fourier analysis of it's position. It also requires great patience (Jupiter's period is 12 years) to detect. Also, since it hasn't been observed directly, there is also the (slight) chance it is some other exotic, massive object.