THE FIRST SPECTRUM of the COLDEST BROWN DWARF

Andrew J. Skemer; Caroline V. Morley; Katelyn N. Allers; Thomas R. Geballe; Mark S. Marley; Jonathan J. Fortney; Jacqueline K. Faherty; Gordon L. Bjoraker; Roxana Lupu

doi:10.3847/2041-8205/826/2/L17

THE FIRST SPECTRUM of the COLDEST BROWN DWARF

Andrew J. Skemer, Caroline V. Morley, Katelyn N. Allers, Thomas R. Geballe, Mark S. Marley, Jonathan J. Fortney, Jacqueline K. Faherty, Gordon L. Bjoraker, Roxana Lupu

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

51 Scopus citations

Abstract

The recently discovered brown dwarf WISE 0855 presents the first opportunity to directly study an object outside the solar system that is nearly as cold as our own gas giant planets. However, the traditional methodology for characterizing brown dwarfs - near-infrared spectroscopy - is not currently feasible, as WISE 0855 is too cold and faint. To characterize this frozen extrasolar world we obtained a 4.5-5.2 μm spectrum, the same bandpass long used to study Jupiter's deep thermal emission. Our spectrum reveals the presence of atmospheric water vapor and clouds, with an absorption profile that is strikingly similar to Jupiter's. The spectrum quality is high enough to allow for the investigation of dynamical and chemical processes that have long been studied in Jupiter's atmosphere, but now on an extrasolar world.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	L17
Journal	Astrophysical Journal Letters
Volume	826
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8205/826/2/L17
State	Published - Aug 1 2016
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.3847/2041-8205/826/2/L17

Cite this

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abstract = "The recently discovered brown dwarf WISE 0855 presents the first opportunity to directly study an object outside the solar system that is nearly as cold as our own gas giant planets. However, the traditional methodology for characterizing brown dwarfs - near-infrared spectroscopy - is not currently feasible, as WISE 0855 is too cold and faint. To characterize this frozen extrasolar world we obtained a 4.5-5.2 μm spectrum, the same bandpass long used to study Jupiter's deep thermal emission. Our spectrum reveals the presence of atmospheric water vapor and clouds, with an absorption profile that is strikingly similar to Jupiter's. The spectrum quality is high enough to allow for the investigation of dynamical and chemical processes that have long been studied in Jupiter's atmosphere, but now on an extrasolar world.",

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AU - Skemer, Andrew J.

AU - Morley, Caroline V.

AU - Allers, Katelyn N.

AU - Geballe, Thomas R.

AU - Marley, Mark S.

AU - Fortney, Jonathan J.

AU - Faherty, Jacqueline K.

AU - Bjoraker, Gordon L.

AU - Lupu, Roxana

PY - 2016/8/1

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AB - The recently discovered brown dwarf WISE 0855 presents the first opportunity to directly study an object outside the solar system that is nearly as cold as our own gas giant planets. However, the traditional methodology for characterizing brown dwarfs - near-infrared spectroscopy - is not currently feasible, as WISE 0855 is too cold and faint. To characterize this frozen extrasolar world we obtained a 4.5-5.2 μm spectrum, the same bandpass long used to study Jupiter's deep thermal emission. Our spectrum reveals the presence of atmospheric water vapor and clouds, with an absorption profile that is strikingly similar to Jupiter's. The spectrum quality is high enough to allow for the investigation of dynamical and chemical processes that have long been studied in Jupiter's atmosphere, but now on an extrasolar world.

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THE FIRST SPECTRUM of the COLDEST BROWN DWARF

Abstract

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