NASA's Webb Telescope discovers new hidden planet in Beta Pictoris star system

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope discovered exoplanet Beta Pictoris d in the Beta Pictoris star system.

Beta Pictoris d was hidden within one of the brightest debris disks known, making it undetectable until now.

The planet was found via the chemical fingerprint of its atmosphere using Webb's NIRSpec instrument, not direct imaging.

The Beta Pictoris system already hosts two known giant planets: Beta Pictoris b and Beta Pictoris c.

The discovery adds to understanding of planetary system formation and evolution, according to lead author Aidan Gibbs.