First Direct Image of a Jupiter‑like Planet Orbiting a Young Sun-like Star
Astronomers have captured the first direct image of a planet resembling Jupiter orbiting the young sun-like star AF Horologii, a breakthrough reported by the European Southern Observatory. The discovery marks a significant milestone in the study of planetary formation and early evolution in distant systems.
The imaging results come from two independent teams led by scientists Dino Mesa and Robert De Rosa. They used the Very Large Telescope in Chile, an observatory complex that pairs four 8.2-meter main telescopes with four smaller 1.8-meter auxiliary units. This configuration enables the combination of powerful light gathering with coordinated optics to probe faint objects in the glare of bright stars. The team began with careful analysis of the star AF Horologii to detect subtle gravitational wobbles caused by an orbiting companion, a signature that suggested the presence of a planetary-mass body long before a direct image could be secured.
To turn that hint into a clear observation, astronomers relied on the SPHERE instrument, a sophisticated system mounted on the VLT. SPHERE’s approach is twofold. First, it suppresses the overwhelming light of the star to reveal dimmer nearby objects. Then it counters atmospheric distortions through advanced adaptive optics, effectively sharpening the view as if looking through a space telescope. The result is a striking image of a planet several times larger than Jupiter and orbiting at a distance that parallels the Earth’s orbit around the Sun in terms of scale, but in a much more expansive planetary system context.
AF Horologii is a star that mirrors the Sun in mass, size, and surface temperature, yet it stands out for its youth. It is estimated to be about 24 million years old, roughly 200 times younger than our Sun. The detected planet orbits at a distance comparable to the space between Saturn and the Sun, offering a window into the early dispersal and migration processes that shape planetary architectures in young systems.
The discovery opens opportunities for deeper investigations into how planetary systems assemble and evolve. By studying the orbit, atmosphere, and formation indicators of this young giant world, researchers hope to refine models for planet formation and to compare them with the well-studied development of our own solar system. Continued observations with the VLT and similar facilities are expected to reveal further details about the planet’s composition, temperature, and atmospheric dynamics, contributing to a more complete picture of how planets emerge around sun-like stars in their youth.