NASA詹姆斯·韦伯太空望远镜在距地球63光年的Beta Pictoris系统中发现了第三颗行星Beta Pictoris d[1]。这颗巨行星的质量至少是木星质量的两倍[1]，此前因被明亮的宇宙尘埃盘掩盖而未被发现[1]。研究人员通过分析其大气中一氧化碳、水蒸气和甲烷的分子特征进行了识别[1]。Beta Pictoris d是通过中等分辨率光谱学首次被直接成像发现的系外行星[1]，展示了通过光谱学发现系外行星的新方法。
该系统距地球约63光年，估计年龄约23百万年[1]。Beta Pictoris d的轨道距离约30天文单位[1]。研究人员在研究Beta Pictoris b的大气时意外发现了Beta Pictoris d[1]。目前Beta Pictoris系统已确认有至少三颗行星可直接成像[1]，成为第二个已知具有此特征的行星系统[1]。这项研究已发表在《天体物理学期刊通讯》上[1]。
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has identified a third exoplanet in the Beta Pictoris system, located approximately 63 light-years from Earth.[1] The newly discovered planet, Beta Pictoris d, is at least twice the mass of Jupiter and orbits at a distance of roughly 30 astronomical units from its host star.[1] Researchers identified the planet by analyzing molecular signatures of carbon monoxide, water vapor, and methane in its atmosphere using spectroscopic analysis.[1] This marks the first time an exoplanet has been directly imaged using medium-resolution spectroscopy.[1]
The discovery emerged unexpectedly while the research team was studying the atmosphere of Beta Pictoris b, another known planet in the system.[1] Beta Pictoris d had previously remained hidden beneath the system's bright dust disk.[1] The Beta Pictoris system, estimated to be approximately 23 million years old, now has at least three directly imaged planets confirmed, making it the second known planetary system with this distinction.[1] The findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters with the DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ae801b.[1]