Radio bursts from Beta Pictoris b reportedly mark first direct detection from an exoplanet
The SETI Institute, citing ScienceAlert, says repeating bursts from the young giant planet appear to come from auroras. The research was undergoing peer review as of September 22, 2026.
TLDR
The SETI Institute, citing ScienceAlert, says researchers used South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope to detect repeating radio bursts directly from Beta Pictoris b, a young giant planet about 63 light-years away. The institute describes the detection as a first for an exoplanet. It says the signals appear to come from auroras generated by the planet’s powerful magnetic field, potentially offering a new way to study magnetic fields beyond our solar system. The research was still undergoing peer review when the institute shared the finding on September 22, 2026.