Forecast for Exotic Weather
January 14, 2013
This artist's conception illustrates the brown dwarf named 2MASSJ22282889-431026. NASA's Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes observed the object to learn more about its turbulent atmosphere. Brown dwarfs are more massive and hotter than planets but lack the mass required to become sizzling stars. Their atmospheres can be similar to the giant planet Jupiter's.
Hubble and Spitzer simultaneously observed the object as it rotated every 90 minutes. The results suggest wind-driven, planet-size clouds.
Image Type: Artwork
Illustration Credit: NASA, ESA, and JPL-Caltech
Science Credit: NASA, ESA, and D. Apai and E. Buenzli (University of Arizona)
Topics:
Human Interest, Space, Astronomy, Spacecraft, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Space telescopes, Brown dwarf, Spitzer Space Telescope, Star, Planet, Jupiter
