A planet 64 light-years away is sending radio signals; astronomers trace their source to auroras on the distant world

Astronomers have reported the first direct detection of radio emission from an exoplanet, tracing the signals to the young gas giant β Pictoris b, located approximately 64 light-years from Earth. Using South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope, researchers identified recurring radio bursts and localised their source to the planet rather than its host star. The emission is believed to be linked to auroral activity generated by the planet’s magnetic field. The observations also helped scientists estimate the magnetic field strength in the region producing the radio waves. The discovery offers a new method for studying magnetic fields beyond the Solar System and could provide insights into the internal processes of young, massive gas giants.Astronomers trace radio signals to a distant exoplanetA research team led by Kevin Ortiz Ceballos at the Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian observed the β Pictoris planetary system during four observing sessions across two frequency bands.