Using newly commissioned Gemini Planet Imager, scientists have clicked a picture of a baby planet in another solar system. Scientists believe the discovery may provide hints about how planets like Jupiter are formed and their effect on their planetary siblings.

The planet, 51 Eridani b, orbits a very young sun-like star that is present around 96 light years from earth. The planet, which is positioned at a small distance from its parent star, is double the size of Jupiter.

Scientists said this planet is among the smallest planets present beyond the solar system to be directly imaged. The planet has been glowing in infrared light. Stanford University astronomer Bruce Macintosh and colleagues mentioned in the journal Science, "51 Eri b provides an opportunity to study in detail a planet that is still influenced by its formation initial conditions".

Scientists carried out follow-up analysis of the planet's atmosphere. Upon assessment, it was found that the planet's atmosphere like Jupiter is dominated by methane. This revelation will help scientists to know how these types of gas-giant planets form and evolve.

Planetary scientist Travis Barman from University of Arizona said 51 Eri b is the first young planet that has almost similarity to what Jupiter used to look like billions of years ago. Till date, astronomers have been able to see very few planets beyond the solar system directly and almost all of them have been five to 13 times as massive as Jupiter.