The Webb Telescope Targets a Freely Traveling Object in the Galaxy.
It moves "at a fast rotational speed."
Astronomers have used the powerful James Webb Space Telescope to investigate a solitary object traveling through the Milky Way. Known as SIMP 0136, this body is rapidly rotating and has a mass approximately 13 times that of Jupiter. This object could be a wandering planet traveling through the cosmos or a brown dwarf, which is a type of failed star.
One instrument on the Webb telescope, the Near Infrared Spectrograph, captures light from distant objects and separates it into different wavelengths, allowing for the analysis of various materials in SIMP 0136. This may provide clues about the nature of its atmosphere. Philip Muirhead, a scientist at Boston University and co-author of the study, commented that by observing Earth from a distance and analyzing the colors, patterns related to the planet's surface and atmosphere can be inferred.
SIMP 0136 has a rapid spin, completing a rotation in just 2.4 hours, which facilitates the collection of light data in a short time. The results suggest an exotic atmosphere with dense clouds containing iron particles, as well as higher clouds composed of silicate material grains, key components in terrestrial rocks. Additionally, the possible presence of large amounts of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide has been detected, potentially formed through chemical reactions. Johanna Vos, an astrophysicist at Trinity College Dublin and the study's lead, indicated that the findings are promising, showing that the abundances of molecules like methane and carbon dioxide can vary over time and from one location to another on SIMP 0136.
This object is relatively close, about 20 light-years away (equivalent to approximately 6 trillion miles). If it is determined to be a brown dwarf, it never reached the necessary density and temperature to initiate nuclear fusion and become a shining star. On the other hand, if it is a wandering planet, it may have been ejected from its original solar system and now roams alone and starless through the galaxy.
The Webb telescope, the result of a collaboration between NASA, ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency, is designed to explore the deep cosmos and gain new insights into the primitive universe. This telescope also examines intriguing planets in our own galaxy and in the solar system.
Among the features that make the Webb telescope exceptional are its massive mirror, over 21 feet in diameter, which captures six times more light than the Hubble telescope, allowing for the observation of more distant and ancient objects. Its ability to observe in the infrared spectrum, unlike Hubble, provides a clearer view through dense cosmic clouds. Additionally, its sophisticated array of spectrographs is revolutionizing the understanding of exoplanets by identifying the molecules in their atmospheres, both in gas giants and rocky worlds.
