Spherex Telescope Discovers Brown Dwarfs With Water and Methane

WHO:

Phys.org - NASA's SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer) space telescope is involved in the discovery.

WHAT:

Phys.org - The discovery marks the first detection of variable water clouds outside of the solar system.

NASA - A Jupiter-sized world just 7.5 light-years away has been identified as the coldest known brown dwarf, named WISE 0855.

Phys.org - SPHEREx has discovered brown dwarfs, which are celestial objects that blur the line between stars and exoplanets.

NASA - New findings published in The Astrophysical Journal indicate that these brown dwarfs have chemically rich atmospheres.

WHERE:

Phys.org - The discoveries pertain to celestial objects in space, specifically brown dwarfs.

WHY:

NASA - The research aims to enhance understanding of brown dwarfs and their atmospheric compositions, which are similar to those of giant planets in our solar system.

HOW:

Phys.org - Brittany Miles, assistant astronomer at the University of Arizona's Steward Observatory, led a team that spent 11 hours observing WISE 0855, collecting a spectrum of its light every 15 minutes.

NASA - The findings were derived from observations made by the SPHEREx telescope, which analyzes the atmospheres of these celestial objects.

(UPDATED October 9, 2026 19:06 UTC)

Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery by detecting variable water clouds outside of our solar system for the first time. In a remarkable find, a Jupiter-sized world just 7.5 light-years away has been identified as the coldest known brown dwarf, named WISE 0855. This achievement was led by Brittany Miles, an assistant astronomer at the University of Arizona's Steward Observatory, who and her team spent 11 hours observing WISE 0855, capturing a spectrum of its light every 15 minutes.

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(UPDATED October 9, 2026 14:04 UTC)

NASA's SPHEREx space telescope has made a significant discovery by identifying brown dwarfs, which are fascinating celestial objects that exist in the gray area between stars and exoplanets. Recent research published in The Astrophysical Journal reveals that these brown dwarfs possess chemically rich atmospheres, similar to those found in giant planets within our solar system. This research aims to deepen our understanding of brown dwarfs and their atmospheric compositions, with findings based on detailed observations from the SPHEREx telescope.