James Webb Telescope Captures First Direct Image of Saturn-Sized Exoplanet TWA 7b | 110 Light-Years Away Discovery

James Webb Telescope Captures First Direct Image of Saturn-Sized Exoplanet TWA 7b



Illustration of the James Webb Telescope capturing TWA 7b, a Saturn-sized exoplanet with a white ring and orange glow, 110 light-years from Earth.





What if we could see a brand-new world orbiting another star—110 light-years away? The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has just done it, capturing the first-ever direct image of a Saturn-sized exoplanet named TWA 7b. This milestone reshapes how we explore the early evolution of planetary systems.


How James Webb Detected TWA 7b

Astronomers used JWST’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) with a coronagraph, a device that blocks the light of its host star. By suppressing the glare, they revealed TWA 7b—a young gas giant orbiting at a distance about 52 times greater than Earth’s orbit from the Sun. This discovery highlights JWST’s unmatched precision in studying distant worlds.


Why Direct Imaging Matters

So far, only about 2% of known exoplanets have been directly imaged. Most are detected through indirect methods like the transit technique or radial velocity. Capturing a Saturn-mass exoplanet in a young star system is rare, making TWA 7b one of the least massive planets ever seen this way. Such findings give scientists critical insights into how planetary systems form and evolve.


What This Means for Astronomy

Located just 110 light-years away, TWA 7b sits within a system only about 6 million years old. This provides a unique window into the early stages of planetary development. The discovery proves that JWST is not only capable of identifying massive exoplanets but also of pushing the boundaries toward smaller, fainter, and more Earth-like worlds.


👉 This is just the beginning. As JWST continues its mission, new exoplanet discoveries could reveal unprecedented details about the diversity of worlds across our galaxy. Stay tuned with Cosmos Insight for the latest updates on space, science, and the universe beyond.


Source: Reuters: JWST discovers an alien planet via direct imaging

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