First radio signal from an exoplanet detected from Beta Pictoris b

Researchers at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian have directly detected radio emission from the exoplanet Beta Pictoris b using South Africa's MeerKAT telescope, confirming a natural auroral process rather than extraterrestrial intelligence. The observation yielded the first direct estimate of an exoplanet's magnetic field, at least 2,500 times stronger than Earth's.

• The signal comes from a gas giant 63 light-years from Earth
• MeerKAT observed it in 2025–2026, with frequencies up to 3.5 GHz
• Its magnetic field is at least 2,500 times stronger than Earth's
• The planet holds 10–12 Jupiter masses and rotates in 8–9 hours