Alpha Centauri Ab

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Alpha Centauri Ab / Rigil Kentaurus b
The candidate planet imaged by JWST (third picture, circled with the label "S1")
Discovery[1]
Discovered byK. Wagner, et al.
Discovery date2021
Direct imaging
Designations
Alpha Centauri Ab, Rigil Kentaurus b, S1+C1
Orbital characteristics[2]
1.64–2.15 AU
Eccentricity0.4
2 to 3 years
Inclination~15 – 165°
StarAlpha Centauri A
(Rigil Kentaurus)
Physical characteristics[2]
1.0–1.1 RJ
Mass90–150 M🜨
Temperature225 K

Alpha Centauri Ab (also known as Rigil Kentaurus b, or originally as Candidate 1) is a candidate exoplanet directly imaged around Alpha Centauri A in February 2021. If confirmed as an exoplanet, it would be the nearest, coldest, shortest-period and oldest directly imaged planet around a solar-type star,[2] and Alpha Centauri would be the brightest planet-hosting star (see list of brightest stars). The planet is expected to be a gas giant based on physical properties.[2] Additional observations are needed to confirm its true nature.

Discovery

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The discovery image of Candidate 1, taken by the NEAR instrument at ESO's Very Large Telescope in 2021

Astronomers from the Breakthrough Watch Initiative directly imaged the habitable zone candidate using a newly developed system for mid-infrared exoplanet imaging.[3] Previous observations from years before ruled out the possibility of it being a background star. The team presented the discovery of the exoplanet candidate in a publication in Nature Communications titled “Imaging low-mass planets within the habitable zone of Alpha Centauri.”[4] However, the observation arc, being only 100 hours long, is not enough to determine whether a signal is planetary in nature, and it may be zodiacal dust or an instrumental artifact.

James Webb Space Telescope observations

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Artist's impression of Alpha Centauri A and its gas planet with Toliman (Alpha Centauri B) (right) on background

A point-like source at a separation of 2 astronomical units was detected by the James Webb Space Telescope in August 2024. It is confirmed to be not a background or foreground source or a cloud of dust, and is unlikely to be an instrumental artifact. If it is an exoplanet, it should be the same candidate observed in 2021. The object was not recovered and will need more observations to be confirmed.[5][2]

Physical characteristics

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While little is known about the candidate planet, there are some characteristics that may be inferred based on its observations. It would have an orbital inclination of ~70° relative to Earth's point of view, consistent with the inclination of the Alpha Centauri system as a whole. Because of the detection algorithm, it would be somewhere around Neptune's mass, and would be no larger than 7 R🜨 as its mass would exceed the radial-velocity threshold of ~50 M🜨,[6] but no smaller than 3.3 R🜨 as that would not render the signature given in the paper. Due to this large size, it is highly unlikely to be rocky and is probably a Neptune-sized planet.[1]

A 2025 study using the observations from the James Webb Telescope derive a mass between 90 and 150 M🜨 and a radius of 1.0–1.1 RJ. Combining non-detections and observations of candidate in 2019 by VLT/NEAR and JWST in 2024, the team estimate an orbital period between 2 and 3 years, an orbital eccentricity of 0.4 and an inclination relative to the Alpha Centauri AB orbital plane of approximately 50 to 130°.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Wagner, K.; Boehle, A.; Pathak, P.; Kasper, M.; Arsenault, R.; Jakob, G.; Käufl, U.; Leveratto, S.; Maire, A.-L.; Pantin, E.; Siebenmorgen, R. (2021-02-10). "Imaging low-mass planets within the habitable zone of α Centauri". Nature Communications. 12 (1): 922. doi:10.1038/s41467-021-21176-6. ISSN 2041-1723. PMC 7876126. PMID 33568657.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Beichman, Charles; et al. (August 2025). "Worlds Next Door: A Candidate Giant Planet Imaged in the Habitable Zone of α Cen A. I. Observations, Orbital and Physical Properties, and Exozodi Upper Limits". The Astrophysical Journal Letters. arXiv:2508.03814.
  3. ^ "Astronomers' hopes raised by glimpse of possible new planet". the Guardian. 2021-02-10. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  4. ^ Gough, Evan (2021-02-11). "Possible Super-Earth in the Habitable Zone at Alpha Centauri". Universe Today. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  5. ^ Sanghi, Aniket; et al. (August 2025). "Worlds Next Door: A Candidate Giant Planet Imaged in the Habitable Zone of α Cen A. II. Binary Star Modeling, Planet and Exozodi Search, and Sensitivity Analysis". The Astrophysical Journal Letters. arXiv:2508.03812.
  6. ^ Zhao, L.; Fischer, D.; Brewer, J.; Giguere, M.; Rojas-Ayala, B. (January 2018). "Planet Detectability in the Alpha Centauri System". Astronomical Journal. 155 (1): 12. arXiv:1711.06320. Bibcode:2018AJ....155...24Z. doi:10.3847/1538-3881/aa9bea. S2CID 118994786. Retrieved 29 December 2017.