Webb image archive
Atmospheric Methane of Brown Dwarfs W1935 and W2220 (NIRSpec)
Astronomers used NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to study 12 cold brown dwarfs. Two of them – W1935 and W2220 – appeared to be near twins of each other in composition, bri...
- Date
- Jan 9, 2024
- Observatory
- James Webb Space Telescope
- Credit
- NASA / ESA / CSA / STScI
- Archive ID
- 01HKMVGVAGED2XQGRFB5SQD785
Astronomers used NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to study 12 cold brown dwarfs. Two of them – W1935 and W2220 – appeared to be near twins of each other in composition, brightness, and temperature. However, W1935 showed emission from methane, as opposed to the anticipated absorption feature that was observed toward W2220. The team speculates that the methane emission may be due to processes generating aurorae.
Credits
Illustration
NASA, ESA, CSA, Leah Hustak (STScI)