‘The most significant JWST finding to date’: James Webb telescope spots giant planet in the habitable zone of the closest sun-like star to Earth
There could be a huge planet that hides near one of the stars closest to the earth.
Nasa James Webb space telescope (JWST) imagined a possible planet near Alpha Centauri A, a star similar to a sun that is part of the group of star of the Alpha Centauri triplet. The mini-cluster is only four light years from the earth and is a rich terrain for astronomers to find out more about other star systems.
But there is an HIC: JWST only spotted the supposed world of the size of Saturn once – in August 2024 – and two other trials in 2025 came empty. “We are faced with the case of a missing planet”, author of the study Aniker SanghiA doctoral student in Caltech, said in a statement.
Astronomers do not yet abandon. The research team said that the planet may have moved its orbit in the dazzling of the star – which makes it temporarily invisible to JWST.
“This is a plausible explanation,” Stanimir MetchevCanada Research President in Western University Extrasolary Planets in Ontario told Live Science by e-mail. Metchev was not involved in research.
“”[It] Delivered with a strict prediction according to which the planet should again be visible in 2026 or 2027. These follow -up observations will be essential to confirm this planet, “Metchev added. But assuming that the planet is there,” it would be the most important JWST discovery to date. “”
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If it is confirmed, the planet would be the world closest to the earth which orbit in the living area of a star – the area around a star where water could exist in liquid form, on the rocky surface of a world the size of the earth. However, the exoplanet of the new size of Saturn is probably too great for life as we know it.
The alleged planet would also be the closest planet to its star never imagined directly, because it orbits twice the equivalent distance between the earth and the sun.
But none of this is yet a slam-dunk.
“The signal is at the limit of what the techniques for improving the contrast applied to JWST images can provide,” said Metchev. “The authors go through a meticulous and credible analysis, but nevertheless any direct image of an exoplanet – in particular such a potential meaning – will require independent confirmation.”
The Alpha Centauri system is made up of three stars: the stars in the shape of a alpha centauri A and Alpha Centauri BAnd a lower red dwarf called proxima Centauri. Astronomers have already confirmed three planets encircling Proxima Centauri.
JWST used his average infrared instrument (MIRI) for observations.
Hunting on the planet in Alpha Centauri required a personalized observation sequence. A coronagraphic mask has also been used to block the light of Alpha Centauri A, allowing JWST to imagine much lower planets in orbit around proximity.
“Their additional effort has borne fruit spectacularly”, co-author of the study Charles BeichmanExecutive director of NASA Exoplanet Science Institute in Caltech, said in the press release.
“These are incredibly difficult observations to make, even with the most powerful space telescope in the world, because these stars are so brilliant, close and quickly cross the sky,” added Beichman.
Meanwhile, the research team has suggested that more hunting for planets could arrive: “The next star of the sun, Tau ceti [about 12 light-years from Earth]Will be much more difficult even with webb, “said Beichman. The NASA Roman space telescope” S Nancy Grace, which will be launched in May 2027, will also be used to search for new worlds.
