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Strange radio signal detected from exoplanet for first time
The Independent • • science
Key Points:
- Astronomers have detected the first-ever radio signal from an exoplanet, Beta Pictoris b, indicating a magnetic field over 1,000 times stronger than Earth's.
- The signal, likely from the planet’s auroras, was observed using South Africa’s MeerKAT array during multiple surveys in 2025 and 2026.
- Beta Pictoris b is a gas giant about 12 times the mass of Jupiter, orbiting its star at a distance similar to Saturn’s from the Sun.
- The detected radio bursts matched the planet’s location and exhibited characteristics typical of auroral radio emissions, confirming their origin from the planet’s magnetic field.
- This discovery represents the first direct measurement of an exoplanet’s magnetic field strength, marking a significant advancement in the study of planets beyond our solar system.
