Epic Space Timelapse Reveals Exoplanet’s 17-Year Journey

Decades ago, astronomers embarked on a new frontier of exploration as they began discovering exoplanets – planets located outside our solar system. These distant worlds, which orbit around other stars, captivate with their mystery and fascination. Today, in 2023, we have the incredible opportunity to witness the 17-year journey of an exoplanet as it travels around its host star through a mesmerizing 10-second time-lapse video.

Leading the project is Jason Wang, an astrophysicist from Northwestern University. This groundbreaking video showcases the exoplanet Beta Pictoris b in motion from 2003 to 2020. It is currently the longest time-lapse video capturing the journey of an exoplanet, as reported by Northwestern. This video offers both astronomers and space enthusiasts a direct and immersive way to experience the life of an exoplanet. It goes beyond mere speculation, allowing us to witness it firsthand.

The time-lapse footage covers approximately 75% of the exoplanet’s full orbit. In the video, a yellow star indicates the position of the host star, while a white “X” marks the exoplanet when it is temporarily hidden by the star’s glare. When the exoplanet emerges into view, it appears as a bright, spherical object.

Exoplanets come in various forms – some resembling the gas giant Jupiter, while others are rocky like Earth. Beta Pictoris b is a colossal gas planet, boasting 12 times the mass of Jupiter – making it the most massive planet in our own solar system. The planet’s substantial size facilitated its discovery and enabled researchers to capture direct images of it.

Multiple space observatories contributed to this monumental project. The Gemini Observatory, consisting of two telescopes in Hawaii and Chile, played a crucial role. The European Southern Observatory with its network of telescopes in Chile also made valuable contributions. Since these observatories couldn’t monitor Beta Pictoris b every single day, the researchers employed image processing techniques to fill in the gaps and create a seamless trajectory for the planet in the video.

Beta Pictoris b exists in the distant Pictor constellation, which was originally named Equuleus Pictoris – meaning “the painter’s easel.” Over time, it has become known by its shortened name.

The exoplanet orbits around the star Beta Pictoris, a young, bright, and massive celestial object. Astronomers estimate the star to be between 20 and 26 million years old, making it relatively young compared to our sun, which has an age of around 4.5 billion years. In terms of stellar development, Beta Pictoris can be considered a youngling.

For a long time, the existence of other planets beyond our solar system remained a matter of speculation for humanity. The first exoplanet discovery remains a topic of debate. However, the confirmation of exoplanets dates back to the 1990s, marking an important milestone. Since then, astronomers have been tirelessly working to unravel the secrets of the universe. Missions like NASA’s Kepler space telescope and the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite have played significant roles in unveiling thousands of exoplanets.

The current exoplanet count according to NASA stands at 5,483, with an additional 9,770 candidates awaiting further study and confirmation as planets. While Beta Pictoris b may be one of many, its ability to showcase its movements over such an extended period makes it truly exceptional.

Jason Wang’s work with Beta Pictoris b is far from finished. The next endeavor is to capture its complete orbit. In a statement, Wang expressed the need for six more years of data to observe one full orbit, emphasizing the importance of patience in achieving this milestone.

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