Scientists announced the discovery of Beta Pictoris d, a new exoplanet in the Beta Pictoris star system, on 15 July 2026. The planet was identified through observations made with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile.
Beta Pictoris System
Beta Pictoris is a young star system located about 63 light-years from Earth. The system is about 23 million years old and already contains the giant exoplanets Beta Pictoris b and Beta Pictoris c. Beta Pictoris d is the third known giant planet in the system.
Detection Method
Beta Pictoris d was detected through the chemical fingerprint of carbon monoxide in its atmosphere. The James Webb Space Telescope used the Near-Infrared Spectrograph Integral Field Unit for this observation. This method differs from direct imaging based only on brightness and position.
Planetary Features
Beta Pictoris d has an estimated mass of at least two to 2.4 times that of Jupiter. It is about 100 times dimmer than Beta Pictoris b and follows a wider orbit of around 30 astronomical units. It is one of the lightest planets ever directly imaged.
Important Facts for Exams
- Beta Pictoris is a well-known young planetary system used in studies of planet formation.
- One astronomical unit is the average distance between Earth and the Sun.
- The James Webb Space Telescope operates mainly in the infrared region.
- The Very Large Telescope is operated by the European Southern Observatory in Chile.
Publication and Research Teams
Two independent teams announced the discovery of Beta Pictoris d. One team was led by Aidan Gibbs of the University of California, San Diego, and the other was led by Ben Sutlieff of the University of Edinburgh and Markus Bonse of ESO. The findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters on 15 July 2026.
