Astronomers discovered methane emissions from brown dwarf W1935 using JWST, suggesting possible aurorae or an active moon.

Astronomers have discovered methane emissions from a cold brown dwarf, W1935, using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). This unexpected finding suggests that the brown dwarf, located 47 light years away, might generate aurorae similar to those seen on Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn. The discovery of methane emissions led researchers to hypothesize potential explanations, such as the presence of aurorae or an active, yet-to-be-discovered moon orbiting W1935. The findings of the research team were published in the journal Nature.

April 17, 2024
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