SMRTR TechAug 7, 2025Scientific American

JWST Spots Possible Alien Planet at Alpha Centauri

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Astronomers using JWST have spotted a potential gas giant planet in Alpha Centauri A's habitable zone, the nearest star system to Earth. If confirmed, this world would be similar to a warmer Saturn, likely lacking life itself but potentially hosting moons with oceans. The discovery remains tentative, with researchers analyzing four observations (two detections, two non-detections) that suggest a Saturn-mass planet on an elliptical orbit, with follow-up observations planned for 2026 to verify this tantalizing candidate.

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