Astronomers detect magnetic field signals from distant exoplanet

Using South Africa's MeerKAT radio array, astronomers detected auroral radio emissions from giant exoplanet β Pictoris b, marking the first direct measurement of an extrasolar planet's magnetic field. The detected bursts ranged from 0.85 to 3.5 GHz, revealing a magnetic field strength of at least 1.25 kilogauss. This breakthrough enables unprecedented study of planetary atmospheres and formation.

Magnetic fields protect a planet's atmosphere from being stripped away by the sun's or another star's wind, and they store information about the inside of the planet.