A 5 μm image of β Pictoris b at A sub-Jupiter projected separation: Evidence for a misalignment between the planet and the inner, warped disk

We present and analyze a new M' detection of the young exoplanet ß Pictoris b from 2008 VLT/NaCo data at a separation of ˜4 AU and a high signal-to-noise rereduction of L' data taken in 2009 December. Based on our orbital analysis, the planet's orbit is viewed almost perfectly edge-on (i ~ 89deg) and has a Saturn-like semimajor axis of 9.50AU . Intriguingly, the planet's orbit is aligned with the major axis of the outer disk (O ~ 31deg) but is probably misaligned with the warp/inclined disk at 80 AU, often cited as a signpost for the planet's existence. Our results motivate new studies to clarify how ß Pic b sculpts debris disk structures and whether a second planet is required to explain the warp/inclined disk.