Beta Pictoris d: JWST Finds Third Directly Imaged Planet
Why in the news
Astronomers using JWST announced a fresh giant planet around Beta Pictoris in July 2026, which adds to the star’s known family of directly photographed worlds.
Key facts
- Telescope: James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), a NASA mission.
- Planet: Beta Pictoris d, a giant exoplanet.
- Distance: about 63 light-years from Earth.
- Record: second system known with three directly imaged planets.
Snapshot
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Instrument | JWST |
| Discovery | Beta Pictoris d |
| Distance | 63 light-years |
| Significance | Three planets seen directly in one system |
Exam angle
- Name of the planet and telescope are common asks.
- Remember the figure: 63 light-years.
- Beta Pictoris is the second system with three directly imaged planets.