Observation of an accreting planetary-mass companion with signs of disc–disc interaction in Orion

Young (≲10 Myr) planetary-mass companions (PMCs) provide valuable insights into the formation and early evolution of planetary systems. To date, only a dozen such objects have been identified through direct imaging. Using JWST/NIRCam observations towards the Orion Nebula, obtained as part of the PDRs4All Early Release Science program, we have identified a faint point source near the M-type star V2376 Ori, a member of Orion D, around 80 pc in the foreground of the Trapezium cluster of Orion and with an age of approximately 7 ± 3 Myr. Follow-up spectroscopic observations with the MUSE instrument on the VLT confirm that the source, V2376 Ori b, is indeed a young PMC. We fit the SED of V2376 Ori b and infer a mass of ∼20 M Jup with evolutionary tracks. The MUSE spectrum reveals several accretion tracers. Based on the H α line intensity, we estimate an accretion rate of ∼10 −6.6 ± 0.2 M Jup yr −1 , which is comparable to that of young PMCs such as PDS 70b. In addition, the MUSE data cube reveals extended emission in the [O II ] doublet at 7320 and 7330 Å, which is interpreted as evidence of a dynamical interaction between the two sources that potentially involves mass transfer between their individual accretion discs. These results demonstrate that JWST/NIRCam imaging surveys of young stellar associations can uncover new PMCs, which can then be confirmed and characterized through ground-based spectroscopic follow-up.

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Journal
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Published
2025-11-13
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202557137
Primary Topic
Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
Type
article
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article

Observation of an accreting planetary-mass companion with signs of disc–disc interaction in Orion

Peter Zeidler, J. Cami, J. R. Goicoechea, Takashi Onaka et al.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
article

Observation of an accreting planetary-mass companion with signs of disc–disc interaction in Orion

Peter Zeidler, J. Cami, J. R. Goicoechea, Takashi Onaka, M. Röllig, A. Fuente, Ilane Schroetter, Massimo Robberto, Olivier Berné, E. Peeters, Thomas J. Haworth, C. Boersma, Paul Amiot, E. Vila
article en

Abstract

Young (≲10 Myr) planetary-mass companions (PMCs) provide valuable insights into the formation and early evolution of planetary systems. To date, only a dozen such objects have been identified through direct imaging. Using JWST/NIRCam observations towards the Orion Nebula, obtained as part of the PDRs4All Early Release Science program, we have identified a faint point source near the M-type star V2376 Ori, a member of Orion D, around 80 pc in the foreground of the Trapezium cluster of Orion and with an age of approximately 7 ± 3 Myr. Follow-up spectroscopic observations with the MUSE instrument on the VLT confirm that the source, V2376 Ori b, is indeed a young PMC. We fit the SED of V2376 Ori b and infer a mass of ∼20 M Jup with evolutionary tracks. The MUSE spectrum reveals several accretion tracers. Based on the H α line intensity, we estimate an accretion rate of ∼10 −6.6 ± 0.2 M Jup yr −1 , which is comparable to that of young PMCs such as PDS 70b. In addition, the MUSE data cube reveals extended emission in the [O II ] doublet at 7320 and 7330 Å, which is interpreted as evidence of a dynamical interaction between the two sources that potentially involves mass transfer between their individual accretion discs. These results demonstrate that JWST/NIRCam imaging surveys of young stellar associations can uncover new PMCs, which can then be confirmed and characterized through ground-based spectroscopic follow-up.

Astronomy and AstrophysicsVol. 704
Goethe University Frankfurt (DE), Western University (CA), Ames Research Center (US), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Space Telescope Science Institute (US), Bloomberg (United States) (US), Johns Hopkins University (US), Queen Mary University of London (GB), European Space Agency (FR), Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (CNRST) (MA), Instituto de Física Fundamental (ES), Institute of Astronomy (RU), Medizinisch Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft (Germany) (DE), Centro de Astrobiología (ES), Earth and Space Research (US), Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie (FR), The University of Tokyo (JP), Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (US)
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Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
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