The James Webb Telescope has captured its first direct image of an exoplanet, astronomers announced on Wednesday, revealing a rare glimpse of the newly discovered planet TWA 7b, located relatively close to Earth.

The powerful space observatory, operational since 2022, has revolutionized our understanding of the universe and significantly boosted the search for planets beyond our Solar System. Until now, however, Webb’s advanced instruments were primarily focused on analyzing known exoplanets—studying their atmospheres and compositions—rather than discovering new ones.

The discovery of exoplanet TWA 7b was published in the journal Nature, with France’s CNRS research center calling it “a first” for the James Webb Telescope. Unlike most of the nearly 6,000 exoplanets identified so far—typically detected by the dimming effect they create when passing in front of their stars—TWA 7b was directly imaged.

Overcoming the Challenge of Star Glare

Lead researcher Anne-Marie Lagrange from the Paris Observatory explained that directly imaging exoplanets is extremely challenging due to their faint heat signatures and the overwhelming brightness of their host stars. “We’re blinded by the light of the star they orbit,” she said.

To overcome this, Webb’s MIRI instrument is equipped with a coronagraph, an attachment that blocks out starlight, mimicking a solar eclipse and allowing the telescope’s infrared sensors to spot dim planets nearby.

Using this method, astronomers pointed Webb at TWA 7, a star roughly 100 light-years away. The star, identified by the Hubble Telescope in 1999, is a mere 6.4 million years old and encircled by a massive disc of dust and gas—ideal conditions for planet formation.

Webb detected a bright object within a gap in the star’s second ring, previously observed by Chile’s Very Large Telescope. After ruling out background galaxies or objects from the Solar System, scientists confirmed the presence of TWA 7b— a cold, relatively small exoplanet.

The study revealed that TWA 7b is about the mass of Saturn, making it at least 10 times lighter than any exoplanet previously captured through direct imaging.

The Road to Earth-Like Discoveries

According to Lagrange, the James Webb Telescope’s first direct image of an exoplanet enhances imaging capabilities by a factor of 10, enabling scientists to detect smaller, fainter planets. While gas giants like TWA 7b are easier to spot, the long-term goal is to find rocky, Earth-like planets that could potentially host life.

“We need to study all kinds of planets to understand how planetary systems evolve,” Lagrange said. “Only then can we answer whether our Solar System is truly unique.”

While the discovery of smaller, habitable exoplanets remains a challenge, future telescopes like the Extremely Large Telescope—set to begin operations in Chile by 2028—may bring that goal within reach. For now, the James Webb Telescope’s milestone discovery marks a major leap forward in the quest to explore other worlds.

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Image of the disk around the star TWA 7 captured using the SPHERE instrument on ESO’s Very Large Telescope. The image taken with JWST’s MIRI instrument is overlaid. The empty region around TWA 7 B in the R2 ring is clearly visible.

Credit: A.-M. Lagrange et al.

Image a: Combined view of the dust disk around the star, with data from SPHERE and JWST. Dense regions are visible, while the center is masked.

Image b: Simulation showing how a planet shapes the surrounding disk through its gravity.

How does JWST detect exoplanets?

Why are debris disks important?

The James Webb Space Telescope has just made history by discovering its first exoplanet.Named TWA 7b, this exoplanet stands out for its exceptionally low mass, equivalent to just 0.3 times that of Jupiter. Located 111 light-years from Earth, it orbits a young star called CE Antilae. The star, only a few million years old, offers a rare spectacle with its face-on debris disk visible from our planet.The discovery of TWA 7b was made possible by JWST’s sensitivity to infrared radiation emitted by young, low-mass planets. The MIRI instrument, equipped with a coronagraph, allowed the faint glow of the planet to be distinguished despite the intense light from its host star. This technique paves the way for identifying other similar worlds.JWST’s observations revealed that CE Antilae’s disk is divided into three distinct rings. The presence of TWA 7b explains the formation of a narrow ring and empty regions in this disk. These structures, sculpted by the planet’s gravity, confirm simulations conducted by astronomers.This discovery highlights JWST’s importance in exoplanet exploration. Its ability to directly image low-mass planets like TWA 7b represents a major breakthrough. Astronomers are already anticipating future discoveries, with the prospect of studying even lighter and more distant worlds.The James Webb Space Telescope primarily uses its MIRI instrument to detect exoplanets. This instrument is sensitive to infrared radiation, allowing it to capture the heat emitted by young planets.An integrated coronagraph blocks the intense light from host stars, revealing the presence of orbiting planets. This technique is particularly effective for low-mass planets like TWA 7b.Direct detection of exoplanets represents a major technical challenge. JWST, with its cutting-edge instruments, overcomes these obstacles by offering unmatched precision.Debris disks, like the one surrounding CE Antilae, are remnants of planetary formation. They contain dust and gas that were not incorporated into planets.Studying these disks allows astronomers to trace the history of planetary systems. The observed structures, such as rings and empty regions, often indicate the presence of unseen planets.These disks also serve as natural laboratories for studying planetary formation processes. They provide valuable clues about how planets interact with their environment.Finally, observing debris disks around young stars helps us understand the diversity of planetary systems in our galaxy.

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has achieved a significant milestone by capturing its first direct image of a newly discovered exoplanet. This groundbreaking observation reveals TWA 7 b, a Saturn-mass planet orbiting the young star TWA 7, located relatively close to Earth. With a mass approximately 0.3 times that of Jupiter, TWA 7 b is now recognized as the smallest planet ever imaged directly, marking a pivotal moment in the study of exoplanets, which have mostly been detected through indirect methods.

Detecting a Hidden World

In a study published in the journal Nature, astronomers detailed how the JWST team focused on TWA 7 due to its nearly face-on dusty disk, which displays distinct ring structures. Utilizing the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) equipped with a coronagraph, the team successfully blocked the star’s bright light, allowing them to identify the faint planet. After analyzing the data, they discovered a faint infrared point source located about 1.5 arcseconds from TWA 7, equivalent to roughly 50 times the distance from the Earth to the Sun.

This point source is situated within a gap of the star’s second dust ring. Its brightness and color correspond with theoretical predictions for a young, cold planet of approximately Saturn’s mass. The presence of this object appears to be creating a gap in the dust ring, consistent with the behavior of an orbiting planet. The astronomers ruled out alternative explanations, such as the possibility of a background star, confirming that the signal is most accurately attributed to a planet.

A Step Toward Smaller Worlds

The discovery of TWA 7 b, with its Saturn-like mass, represents a significant leap in the capability of the JWST. This planet is about ten times less massive than any previously imaged exoplanet, demonstrating that the telescope can now capture images of much smaller worlds. Scientists believe that the JWST may eventually be able to detect planets with masses as low as 10% of Jupiter’s, inching closer to the size of Earth.

This breakthrough is seen as a crucial step toward imaging terrestrial planets in the future. Astronomers anticipate that upcoming observatories will greatly enhance the ability to directly image Earth-sized planets. Plans for next-generation telescopes, both terrestrial and space-based, are underway, featuring even more advanced coronagraphs designed to search for the first direct images of Earth analogues.

Implications for Future Research

The successful imaging of TWA 7 b opens new avenues for exoplanet research and exploration. The ability to directly observe smaller planets could lead to a better understanding of their atmospheres, compositions, and potential habitability. As technology advances, astronomers are optimistic about the prospects of discovering more Earth-like planets, which could provide insights into the conditions necessary for life beyond our solar system.

The JWST’s capabilities signify a transformative era in astronomy, where direct imaging of distant worlds becomes a reality. This achievement not only enhances our knowledge of planetary systems but also fuels the quest to find life elsewhere in the universe. As researchers continue to analyze the data from JWST, the excitement surrounding the potential for future discoveries remains palpable.

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Source: Reuters

James Webb Space Telescope captures young exoplanet TWA 7b

How James Webb Space Telescope spotted a new planet hiding in a dusty ring

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James Webb Space Telescope finds TWA 7b in a dust gap

What makes this discovery so significant

First planet discovered by JWST using direct imaging

Lowest-mass exoplanet ever directly imaged

Potential first observational evidence of a planet influencing a debris disc

New insights into planet formation in very young systems

How James Webb Space Telescope new imaging techniques revealed the hidden planet TWA 7b

Future of exoplanet discovery with James Webb Space Telescope

Confirm the planetary nature of TWA 7b

Measure its exact mass, atmosphere, and temperature

Study the dynamic interactions between the planet and its debris disc

Look for Trojan dust clouds—collections of material that may share the planet’s orbit.

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The James Webb Space Telescope has officially discovered its first new planet after three years of supporting astronomers in studying known exoplanets. This young world is a groundbreaking discovery designated TWA 7b because it is the lowest-mass planet ever directly imaged outside the solar system. With an estimated mass of just 0.3 times that of Jupiter (or about 100 times that of Earth), TWA 7b is ten times lighter than any previously directly imaged exoplanet.The young exoplanet discovered by JWST: TWA 7b orbits a young, low-mass star called CE Antliae (also known as TWA 7), located approximately 111 light-years from Earth in the constellation Antlia. This star, discovered in 1999, is part of the TW Hydrae Association, a group of stars known for their youth. CE Antliae is thought to be just 6.4 million years old—a cosmic infant compared to our 4.6-billion-year-old Sun. Its youthful nature, along with its nearly pole-on orientation as seen from Earth, made it an ideal candidate for imaging with JWST.The key to discovering TWA 7b lies in infrared imaging. Young, low-mass planets like TWA 7b emit thermal radiation in the infrared spectrum, which is JWST’s specialty. The telescope’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), along with its coronagraph, played a pivotal role.A coronagraph allows astronomers to block out the overwhelming light of a star, making it possible to detect faint nearby objects such as exoplanets. Using high-contrast imaging techniques, the JWST team was able to detect a faint infrared source embedded in the debris disc around TWA 7.This faint source turned out to be located in a gap between rings of dust—an area theorised to be carved out by a planet’s gravitational influence. Simulations confirmed that the presence of a Saturn-mass planet in that exact location could explain the observed structure.The disc around TWA 7 is not a random cloud of debris—it contains three distinct rings, with gaps in between. One of these gaps has a narrow ring flanked by two dust-free regions, a signature commonly associated with the gravitational forces of an orbiting planet. The infrared glow detected by JWST corresponds precisely to this ring gap, and its brightness, temperature (around 320 Kelvin or 47°C), and orbital distance (about 50 astronomical units from the star) all match what scientists expected of a planet in this region.The discovery of TWA 7b marks a milestone in exoplanet science for several reasons:Astronomers believe that the structures seen in debris discs around young stars are blueprints for planetary formation. These rings and gaps represent zones where material is either accumulating to form planets or being cleared out by their gravitational pull. TWA 7b may be the first direct proof of this process in action.To detect TWA 7b, researchers used advanced image subtraction methods. Removing residual starlight, they could separate the planet from Solar System bodies and background galaxies. This finding illustrates the way that new observing methods and instruments on JWST—such as the coronagraph and MIRI—are opening up our ability to discover hitherto inaccessible exoplanets. Due to JWST’s mid-infrared sensitivity, it’s now able to detect planets as massive and as cold as Saturn, a tremendous improvement in direct imaging.With its ability to suppress starlight and pick up the faint heat signatures of small, cold planets, JWST is opening a new frontier in exoplanet discovery. Astronomers are now optimistic that even lighter planets—possibly Neptune-mass or even super-Earths—could soon be within reach.Future follow-up observations will aim to:

Planets are believed to form from dust and gas in swirling disks around young stars. Over time, these protoplanetary disks evolve into debris disks—leftovers from planet formation. These older disks, ranging from a few million to billions of years old, have lost their original gas. Instead, their dust is constantly replenished by collisions between rocky objects.

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Using powerful telescopes, astronomers have observed dozens of these disks, stretching tens or even hundreds of times the distance from Earth to the Sun. They often show rings, gaps, and hollowed-out regions—possible signs of hidden planets shaping the dust with their gravity. But so far, no planet has been directly seen causing these features, likely because earlier telescopes weren’t sensitive enough.

Now, in a breakthrough study published in Nature, scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope may have spotted such a planet. Orbiting a young star called TWA 7, it’s roughly the size of Saturn. If confirmed, it would be the lightest planet ever directly imaged outside our solar system—and Webb’s first direct planet discovery.

TWA 7 (also known as CE Antilae) is a red dwarf about 6.4 million years old and 34 light-years away. Its disk, seen almost face-on, made it perfect for Webb’s high-sensitivity mid-infrared observations.

Indian scientists discovered a dense sub-Saturn size exoplanet

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Using the James Webb Space Telescope’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), astronomers spotted a faint infrared signal in the debris disk around the young star TWA 7. This signal is located about 50 times farther from the star than Earth is from the Sun—exactly where scientists expect a planet to be if it were shaping the disk’s structure.

The team used a special tool called a coronagraph to detect the signal more clearly to block out the star’s bright light. This allowed them to pick out much fainter objects nearby. With advanced image processing, they removed leftover starlight and revealed the faint source.

They ruled out the possibility that the object—referred to as TWA 7 b—is something from our solar system just passing by. Although there’s a slim chance it could be a distant galaxy, the data strongly suggests it’s a newly discovered planet.

The faint object lies in a gap within one of three dust rings surrounding the star TWA 7, rings that were first seen with ground-based telescopes. Its brightness, color, and position all match what scientists expect from a young, cold planet about the mass of Saturn, thought to be shaping the debris around it.

Giant planets around young star raise questions about how planets form

“This looks like a strong candidate for a planet influencing the shape of the TWA 7 disk—and it’s right where we expected such a planet to be,” said lead author Anne-Marie Lagrange.

Co-author Mathilde Malin added, “This discovery shows how Webb can help us spot planets similar in size to those in our own solar system—a big leap in understanding how planetary systems form.”

Early results suggest that the faint object, now called TWA 7 b, is a cold, young planet about the mass of Saturn (roughly 100 Earth masses), with a temperature near 47°C (120°F). It’s located in a gap within the star’s debris disk, indicating it may be shaping the surrounding dust through gravitational interaction.

If confirmed, TWA 7 b would be the first directly imaged planet linked to shaping its disk. It might even hint at the presence of a rare “trojan disk”—dust trapped in the planet’s orbit.

Journal Reference:

Lagrange, AM., Wilkinson, C., Mâlin, M., et al. Evidence for a sub-Jovian planet in the young TWA 7 disk. Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09150-4