Unveiling Hidden Worlds: Hunting for Exoplanets with SHARK-NIR at the LBT

Astronomers used the SHARK-NIR instrument at the Large Binocular Telescope to investigate potential planetary companions causing proper motion anomalies in three nearby stars. While no planets were directly detected, constraints suggest companions with masses between 2–16 Jupiter masses at separations of 2.5–30 AU for HIP 11696 and HIP 47110. For HIP 36277, two candidate companions were identified, one requiring confirmation. The study highlights SHARK-NIR's capabilities and the value of combining imaging with astrometric data.