The James Webb Space Telescope has provided the first “weather forecast” from a brown dwarf wandering through space without a sun. The object, called SIMP-0136, is located about 20 light-years away in the constellation Pisces. It is neither a planet nor a star, but a “failed star.”
The study, published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, showed that its clouds are stable and composed of hot silicates. But the upper atmosphere turned out to be about 300°C hotter than models predicted. The reason is powerful auroras, which not only shine but also heat the air.
Scientists also recorded small temperature fluctuations that massive storms could cause. The researchers say such observations are essential for understanding how the atmospheres of worlds outside our solar system change.
