In a remarkable accomplishment, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in the search for extraterrestrial life with its historic discovery of TWA 7b, the first exoplanet it has ever directly imaged.
See the tweet below!
Located near the star TWA 7, about a hundred light-years away, this revelation showcases the telescope’s unprecedented capabilities.
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope captured direct images of an exoplanet using its advanced technology.
By employing the MIRI instrument’s coronagraph, Webb masked the blinding light of TWA 7, allowing scientists to observe TWA 7b, a relatively small and cold planet likely similar in mass to Saturn.
The discovery marks a new era of exploration within our universe.
TWA 7b stands as the lightest exoplanet ever directly imaged, positioned approximately 100-111 light-years from Earth.
Situated about 50 times farther from its star than Earth is from the Sun, TWA 7b has a mass roughly 100 times that of Earth, aligning closely with Saturn’s size.
This direct imaging represents a significant leap forward in our understanding of distant worlds.
“NASA’S James Webb Space Telescope has captured direct images of a planet outside of our solar system, which is the first time it has accomplished such a feat,” said Dr. Anne-Marie Lagrange, leader of the research team.
The JWST’s success with TWA 7b is further amplified by its unique viewing position.
Approaching the system “pole-on” gives a clear perspective of its striking protoplanetary disk, composed of three concentric rings of dust and debris.
One particular ring is sandwiched between two empty “lanes,” giving researchers a vivid portrayal of early solar system development.
The star system, billions of years younger than TWA 7b, is a mere 6 million years old, offering a rare glimpse into planetary formation’s formative stages.
Observations confirmed by simulations revealed a narrow ring and corresponding “hole,” matching JWST observations of the young exoplanet.
Finding smaller, habitable worlds is an ultimate target, and the James Webb Space Telescope has improved direct imaging capabilities tenfold compared to previous efforts.
As scientists continue exploring, next-generation telescopes will be vital in capturing images of rocky planets, which may even harbor life similar to Earth.
“Here we’re looking at a system that is about 6 million years old, so we are really witnessing the youth of the planetary system,” Lagrange explained.
NASA’s accomplishment with the James Webb Space Telescope is a testament to American ingenuity and persistence.
In its quest, the telescope not only enhances our understanding of the universe but firmly places the United States at the forefront of space exploration.
The James Webb Space Telescope has discovered its first exoplanet, TWA 7b which is also the lightest exoplanet ever to be directly imaged. https://t.co/e36slUt2hp
— SPACE.com (@SPACEdotcom) June 25, 2025
