Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Astronomers have discovered a third planet orbiting the star Beta Pictoris using ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT). The new planet, Beta Pictoris d, is among the lightest exoplanets ever to be imaged from the ground. After the initial discovery, the team found it had been hiding in archive observations spanning more than a decade. This video summarises the study.

For more details, check: eso.org/public/news/eso2609/.

Members of the media can request a version of this video without the overset text by emailing press@eso.org.

Credit:
ESO

Music: Stellardrone - To The Great Beyond.
Written by: E. Elkington.
Edited by: V. González
Footage and photos: ESO, L. Calçada, M. Kornmesser, C. Malin, P. Horálek

More information and download options: eso.org/public/videos/eso2609a