A team of astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has found strong evidence for a new exoplanet, one that orbits Alpha Centauri A, a nearby star similar to our sun. The potential gas giant is located just four light-years away from Earth in the Alpha Centauri triple-star system.
The discovery was made possible by using JWST’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) to image Alpha Centauri with a coronagraphic mask, which removed the glare from the stars and allowed the team to detect fainter objects like planets. The resulting images revealed a planet candidate that is 10,000 times fainter than its host star.
Although the planet is in the habitable zone of Alpha Centauri A, where liquid water could exist on a world’s surface, it is a gas giant and would not be able to support life as we know it. The discovery is exciting nonetheless, particularly for science fiction fans who may recognize the location from movies like “Avatar,” which features a fictional moon orbiting a gas giant that also orbits Alpha Centauri A.
The planet candidate’s proximity to its host star makes it an intriguing target for further study. At just two astronomical units away, it would be the closest exoplanet ever imaged around a star with similar properties to our sun. The discovery also highlights the potential of the James Webb Space Telescope and upcoming missions like the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope to collect data on planetary systems beyond our own.
The team plans to continue observing the planet candidate using both JWST and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which is scheduled to launch in May 2027. Further observations may reveal additional evidence or confirm the planet’s existence, providing scientists with a unique opportunity to study the formation, survival, and evolution of planets in chaotic environments.
Source: https://www.space.com/astronomy/exoplanets/james-webb-space-telescope-spots-a-potential-new-exoplanet-just-4-light-years-away-from-earth