Astronomers have used the powerful James Webb Space Telescope to detect brown dwarfs, objects that are neither stars nor planets, in a vibrant star-forming region of our galaxy. These free-floating worlds, too small to trigger nuclear fusion in stars but more massive than most planets, have puzzled scientists for years.
The research provides new insights into the mass limitations of these elusive objects, with masses ranging from two to three times that of Jupiter, the gas giant. If this limit is confirmed, it would mean that one-Jupiter-mass brown dwarfs should not exist in our Milky Way galaxy unless they were formed as planets and ejected from their systems.
The Webb telescope’s advanced capabilities allowed it to reveal these deep space objects, which are extremely faint due to their lack of heat and size. The telescope views faint infrared light, providing a unique perspective on the universe. This has enabled researchers to better understand the formation and characteristics of brown dwarfs.
According to Michael Meyer, an astronomer at the University of Michigan, “Webb, for the first time, has been able to probe up to and beyond that limit.” The discovery is significant as it sheds light on the objects’ origins and nature.
The research will be published in the peer-reviewed science journal The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
Source: https://mashable.com/article/james-webb-space-telescope-brown-dwarf-images