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MeerKAT Confirms Beta Pictoris b Magnetic Field via Auroral Bursts

By Drooid · Sep 25, 2026, 12:58 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

MeerKAT radio telescope array detected auroral radio bursts from the exoplanet Beta Pictoris b.
Researchers observed Beta Pictoris b four times in 2025 and 2026 across 0.85–3.5 GHz.
The bursts exhibited 40-70% circular polarization, indicating electron cyclotron maser instability.
Gaia-quasar localization placed the source on Beta Pictoris b, rejecting the star at 4.4 ? and implying >=1.25 kilogauss field.
This marks the first direct magnetic-field strength measurement for an exoplanet and is natural auroral emission.

History

Historical Context

Pioneer 11’s December 1974 flyby detected Jupiter’s magnetic field, and Voyager 1 later measured the planet’s magnetosphere, confirming its strength. Decades later, NASA’s Juno spacecraft, in a polar orbit since July 2016, has mapped the uneven field and logged 86 orbits by August 2026, deepening models of planetary magnetic protection for future exploration and habitability.

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Story summary

MeerKAT radio telescope array detected auroral radio bursts from the exoplanet Beta Pictoris b.
Researchers observed Beta Pictoris b four times in 2025 and 2026 across 0.85–3.5 GHz.
The bursts exhibited 40-70% circular polarization, indicating electron cyclotron maser instability.
Gaia-quasar localization placed the source on Beta Pictoris b, rejecting the star at 4.4 ? and implying >=1.25 kilogauss field.
This marks the first direct magnetic-field strength measurement for an exoplanet and is natural auroral emission.

1 / 2