[REVISION HISTORY]

Radio signal detection from exoplanet Beta Pictoris b

Updated 3 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-01 14:28 UTC → 2026-10-02 20:30 UTC · added ~~removed~~

An international team of astrophysicists has achieved the first direct detection of radio emissions from an exoplanet, Beta Pictoris b. Located approximately 63 to 64 light-years from Earth, the massive gas giant was observed using the MeerKAT radio telescope array in South Africa. Researchers from the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian and the University of Oregon identified repeating, strongly circularly polarized radio bursts. These signals, occurring within the 0.85 to 3.5 gigahertz frequency range, are attributed to natural auroral activity caused by the electron cyclotron maser instability (ECMI), which occurs when charged particles interact with the planet’s atmosphere and magnetic field. This discovery enabled the first direct measurement of an exoplanet’s magnetic field, estimated at at least 1.25 kilogauss. This field is approximately 2,500 times stronger than Earth’s and significantly more powerful than Jupiter’s. The intense magnetism is linked to the planet’s rapid rotation, with a day lasting only eight to nine hours. Beta Pictoris b is described as a gas giant roughly 9 to 13 times more massive than Jupiter. Recent observations emphasize the significance of isolating the planet's specific signal from the radiation of its host star. While the detection of radio signals from a distant planet can evoke themes of extraterrestrial intelligence, scientists emphasize that these signals are natural phenomena related to the planet's magnetic properties.

Versions

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.