In a cosmic breakthrough, an international squad of astronomers featuring Dr. Prashant Pathak from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Kanpur) has discovered a colossal planet orbiting a star, much like our Sun. Named Epsilon Indi Ab (Eps Ind Ab), this “Super-Jupiter” is making waves as the first-ever mature exoplanet (a planet beyond our solar system) to be discovered using direct imaging techniques. The image was captured using the James Webb Space Telescope’s (JWSTs) Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI).
In a ground-breaking discovery, an international team of astronomers, including Dr. Prashant Pathak, Assistant Professor at the Dept. of Space, Planetary & Astronomical Sciences & Engineering (SPASE), IIT Kanpur, has discovered a giant planet orbiting a nearby star similar to our… pic.twitter.com/18rU8Yc7Gt
— IIT Kanpur (@IITKanpur) July 25, 2024
About Epsilon Indi Ab
Eps Ind Ab is a “Super Jupiter” that’s at least six times more massive than Jupiter, making it the biggest planet in the solar system. Despite its size, it keeps things cool at around -1°C (30°F).
The newly discovered planet is located 12 light-years away from Earth and takes 200 years to complete its orbit, travelling from a distance that is 28 times greater than Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
