Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have gained new insights into a mysterious cosmic body dubbed SIMP 0136, which could be either a rogue planet or a “failed star.” This object drifts through space at approximately 20 light-years from Earth without any stellar anchor, exhibiting unusual characteristics that have puzzled scientists for years.
SIMP 0136 has a mass of around 13 times that of Jupiter and is roughly the same size as our solar system’s gas giant. Its rapid rotation period of just 2.4 hours suggests an extremely fast rotation rate. Researchers have long suspected that SIMP 0136 might be a brown dwarf, a type of stellar body that fails to ignite nuclear fusion in its core, but the exact nature of this object remains unclear.
Using the JWST’s infrared capabilities, scientists monitored SIMP 0136 over two rotations, observing variations in cloud layers, temperature, and atmospheric chemistry. These findings revealed hundreds of detailed light curves showing how different wavelengths of infrared light changed in brightness as the object rotated.
The researchers noticed distinct light curve shapes for various wavelengths, indicating multiple factors influencing these changes. To understand the causes, they developed atmospheric models to determine which regions of the atmosphere were responsible for specific wavelength changes.
Data from SIMP 0136 suggests patchy clouds composed of iron particles and silicates in its upper layers, while patches of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide may have been present in the lower atmosphere. The team is still working to unravel the chemistry puzzle surrounding this enigmatic object.
Source: https://www.space.com/the-universe/rogue-exoplanet-or-failed-star-james-webb-space-telescope-looks-into-a-new-cosmic-case