A team of astronomers has captured stunning images of a frozen giant exoplanet located 12 light-years away. The planet, known as Epsilon Indi Ab, is similar in size to Jupiter and is one of the coldest exoplanets ever observed.
Using the James Webb Space Telescope, researchers were able to directly image the planet, making it the first extrasolar planet to be discovered in this way. The images show a bright orange circle representing the massive planet, which is six times the size of Jupiter.
According to astronomer Elisabeth Matthews from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Germany, Epsilon Indi Ab is extremely cold compared to other exoplanets that have been imaged. The discovery was published in the journal Nature on July 24.
Typically, exoplanets are detected when they pass in front of their host stars, causing a temporary dimming of light that is observed from Earth. However, direct imaging of exoplanets is rare and challenging, especially when they are not as hot or bright as other planets that have been imaged.
In the case of Epsilon Indi Ab, astronomers used a technique called ‘wobble’ to detect the presence of the massive planet. By carefully positioning the James Webb Space Telescope and utilizing its coronagraph capability, researchers were able to cancel out the glare from the host star and capture clear images of the distant planet.
The images reveal that Epsilon Indi Ab is a gas giant, primarily composed of hydrogen gas, similar to Jupiter. It orbits its host star at a distance 15 times greater than that of Earth to the Sun and has a temperature just above freezing.
While the discovery of Epsilon Indi Ab is exciting, astronomers like Markus Janson from Stockholm University emphasize the need for further observations to confirm the findings. Additional studies, such as measuring the planet’s spectrum of light to analyze its atmosphere, could provide valuable insights into the formation and composition of the distant planet.
Epsilon Indi Ab is part of a unique triple system that includes two brown dwarfs orbiting the star at a significant distance. This unusual system presents a rare opportunity for astronomers to study planetary formation and evolution in mature star systems.
Overall, the discovery of Epsilon Indi Ab marks a significant step toward advancing our ability to image and study exoplanets in distant star systems. The research opens up new possibilities for understanding the diversity of planetary systems beyond our solar system and sheds light on the complex processes that govern the formation of planets in the universe.