Latest news with #AllisonMcCarthy
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Huh? James Webb telescope spots 'rogue' planet with cake-like atmosphere
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), researchers have generated the first-ever weather report of a rogue exoplanet-like object — and it shows patches of clouds and carbon chemicals, along with high-altitude auroras. The findings, published March 3 in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, also revealed that the celestial object possesses a complex, layered atmosphere. Earth's atmosphere is a blanket of gases, primarily nitrogen and oxygen. But other planets in the solar system have very different atmospheres. For example, Venus' air is much thicker than Earth's and is vitriolic: it's made of sulfuric acid. This diversity of atmospheres has also been observed in planets beyond our cosmic neighborhood: Some exoplanets have water vapor-soaked atmospheres, while others host superheated clouds of sand. Now, researchers have pointed JWST at a mysterious object called SIMP 0136+0933 to learn more about its atmosphere. This object's identity is still nebulous, said study lead author Allison McCarthy, a graduate student in Boston University's astronomy department. "[I]t's not a planet in the traditional sense — since it doesn't orbit a star," she told Live Science in an email. However, "it also has a lower mass than a typical brown dwarf [a so-called 'failed star']," she added. Related: 32 alien planets that really exist SIMP 0136+0933 has a 2.4-hour-long day and is located in the Carina Nebula 20 light-years away. Because it is the brightest free-floating planetary-mass object in the Northern Hemisphere and is far from stars that could obfuscate observations, it has been directly photographed by telescopes like NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. These observations revealed that SIMP 0136+0933 has an unusually variable atmosphere, with fluctuations in the electromagnetic spectrum's infrared region (which humans would perceive as heat). But the physical phenomena causing this variability were still unknown. To unravel these processes, McCarthy and colleagues used JWST's Near-Infrared Spectrograph to measure the intensity of the short-wave radiation SIMP 0136+0933 emitted. They collected about 6,000 such datasets over nearly three hours on July 23, 2023, sampling data from the whole object. Then, over the next three hours, they repeated the process for longer wavelengths, using the space telescope's Mid-Infrared Instrument. The researchers then created light curves to show how the infrared radiation's "brightness" (or intensity) changed over time. These curves revealed that different wavelengths behaved differently. At any one point, some brightened, others dimmed and others didn't change. Despite this, the researchers found the light curves formed three clusters, each with a specific — albeit somewhat variable — shape. The similar light-curve shapes suggested that similar atmospheric mechanisms were causing them. To determine these, the researchers built models of SIMP 0136+0933's atmosphere. This enabled them to infer that the first wavelength cluster originated from a low-lying layer of iron clouds, with the second cluster coming from higher-lying clouds of forsterite, a magnesium mineral. The cloud layers were also probably patchy, which could have caused some of the variability in the wavelength clusters' curves. But clouds couldn't explain the third wavelength cluster, which seemed to originate high above them. Instead, the researchers believe this radiation came from "hotspots," or hot pockets of the atmosphere that may originate from radio auroras. These radio auroras resemble Earth's northern lights, but they're in the radio-wavelength range. RELATED STORIES —Surprise discovery in alien planet's atmosphere could upend decades of planet formation theory —Exoplanet with iron rain has violent winds 'like something out of science fiction' —Nearby exoplanet has grown a tail 44 times longer than Earth — and it is acting like a giant 'stellar windsock' Yet even these models couldn't explain all of the observations, like why the first cluster's curves had such diverse shapes. The researchers proposed that clumps of carbon-based chemicals, such as carbon monoxide, in the atmosphere may have been responsible, absorbing radiation at some wavelengths at certain times. "While these variability mechanisms had been hypothesized, this was the first time we observed them directly in SIMP 0136's atmosphere," McCarthy said. But a few hours of observations aren't enough to understand SIMP 0136+0933's atmosphere in the long term. For that, the researchers will need to study the object over several days, possibly with NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which is expected to launch in 2027.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Mysterious cosmic body is a rogue ‘Super-Jupiter'
A phantom 'Super-Jupiter' 13 times more massive than our solar system's gas giant is drifting through the cosmos around 20 light-years from Earth. Although discovered in 2006, the 'free-floating planetary-mass object' known as SIMP 0136 has continued to stump astronomers for nearly two decades—is it a rogue planet, failed star, or something else entirely? Thanks to an international team's recent work utilizing NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), newly recorded details are helping clarify the nature of SIMP 0136. The results, published on March 3 in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, depict a complicated cosmic body that continues to expand our understanding of the universe. First detected nearly 20 years ago, SIMP J013656.5+093347 (SIMP 0136, for short) appears to be a rapidly rotating, planet-sized object situated in the Pisces constellation. It's relatively isolated in the northern sky, and is the region's brightest entity of its kind. Taken altogether, SIMP 0136 offers astronomers one of the best options for exo-meteorological study. Previous examinations using ground-based tools as well as the Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes indicated SIMP 0136 was potentially a brown dwarf—a cosmic body with the makings of a star that nonetheless fails to gather enough mass to initiate nuclear fusion. Unique characteristics, however, kept astronomers perplexed: its fluctuating brightness suggested the existence of complex atmospheric conditions beyond just clouds. The more they learned about SIMP 0136, the more it appeared to be an exoplanet, albeit one lacking a star to orbit. 'We already knew that it varies in brightness, and we were confident that there are patchy cloud layers that rotate in and out of view and evolve over time,' Boston University researcher Allison McCarthy explained in a statement on March 3. 'We also thought there could be temperature variations, chemical reactions, and possibly some effects of auroral activity affecting the brightness, but we weren't sure.' To try solving some of these mysteries, McCarthy and colleagues recently trained the JWST on SIMP 0136 for two full rotations, then gathered data using the telescope's Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) and Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI). The results generated hundreds of wavelength measurements across the infrared light spectrum that McCarthy's team could analyze for changes over the course of its speedy rotation. 'Until now, we only had a little slice of the near-infrared spectrum from Hubble, and a few brightness measurements from Spitzer,' principal investigator and Trinity College Dublin researcher Johanna Vos added. 'To see the full spectrum of this object change over the course of minutes was incredible.' The team noticed SIMP 0136 exhibited several distinct light-curve shapes simultaneously. As some wavelengths grew in brightness, others dimmed or remained relatively stable. This implied that multiple influences trigger the variations. Co-author Philip Muirhead from Boston University likened the observations to examining Earth from very far away. 'Blue would increase as oceans rotate into view. Changes in brown and green would tell you something about soil and vegetation,' he said. Additional atmospheric modeling helped the team next assess the likely depth origins of each light wavelength, which could further clarify SIMP 0136's details. One wavelength group located deep in the atmosphere suggests patchy clouds composed of iron particles, while higher clouds potentially contain silicate minerals. A third wavelength cluster, however, seems to exist at an extremely high altitude and correspond to temperature hot spots. Experts believe these could come from previously observed auroras, or potentially plumes of hot gas rising from deeper in the atmosphere. Not all of the light curves can be explained just yet, and don't relate to clouds or temperature. Researchers believe these likely depict differences in atmospheric carbon chemistry, such as pockets of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Vos admitted they 'haven't really figured out the chemistry part of the puzzle yet,' but remains excited by the latest round of discoveries. The data also underscores the diversity of exoplanets like SIMP 0136. 'If we are looking at an exoplanet and can get only one measurement, we need to consider that it might not be representative of the entire planet,' said Vos.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
James Webb Spots Mysterious Object Crossing Space Between Stars
NASA's groundbreaking James Webb Space Telescope has spotted a mysterious object that's freely floating through interstellar space. According to NASA, the "planetary-mass" object, dubbed SIMP 0136, is roughly 13 times the mass of Jupiter, and is located just 20 light-years from Earth. It's also spinning at a breakneck speed, completing a full rotation every 2.4 hours. Thanks to the JWST's detailed infrared light observations, an international team of researchers detected signs of "complex atmospheric features," including possible cloud layers and temperature shifts in the object's atmosphere, as detailed in a study they published in the journal The Astrophysical Journal Letters. It's a fascinating glimpse at an exceedingly rare object. The researchers suggest in their paper that objects like SIMP 0136 could much in common with cloud giants in the solar system, like Jupiter and Saturn, which "also have multiple cloud layers and high-altitude hot spots" (except that it's floating through space without a star, that is.) Astronomers also aren't ruling out the possibility that it's a brown dwarf, an object that's between a planet and a star. The latest research builds on existing observations by NASA's Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes. "We already knew that it varies in brightness, and we were confident that there are patchy cloud layers that rotate in and out of view and evolve over time," said lead author and Boston University doctoral student Allison McCarthy in a NASA statement. "We also thought there could be temperature variations, chemical reactions, and possibly some effects of auroral activity affecting the brightness, but we weren't sure." James Webb's Near-Infrared Spectrograph allowed scientists to observe a much wider spectrum of infrared light, leading to fascinating new insights into the lonely object. "Until now, we only had a little slice of the near-infrared spectrum from Hubble, and a few brightness measurements from Spitzer," said principal investigator and Trinity College Dublin assistant professor Johanna Vos in the statement. The researchers ran hundreds of detailed light curves against atmospheric models to get a better sense of what SIMP 0136's atmosphere might look like. They found evidence for patchy clouds and bright "hot spots," possibly related to auroras, far above the clouds. "Imagine watching Earth from far away," Boston University scientist and coauthor Philip Muirhead said in a statement. "If you were to look at each color separately, you would see different patterns that tell you something about its surface and atmosphere, even if you couldn't make out the individual features." "Blue would increase as oceans rotate into view," he added. "Changes in brown and green would tell you something about soil and vegetation." Other light curves observed by the JWST suggest the existence of pockets of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide — but plenty of questions remain. "We haven't really figured out the chemistry part of the puzzle yet," Vos said. "But these results are really exciting because they are showing us that the abundances of molecules like methane and carbon dioxide could change from place to place and over time." "If we are looking at an exoplanet and can get only one measurement, we need to consider that it might not be representative of the entire planet," she added. More on brown dwarfs: Astronomers Discover Brown Dwarf Covered in Stripes
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Rogue exoplanet or failed star? James Webb Space Telescope looks into a new cosmic case
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), astronomers have peered into the atmosphere of a cosmic body that could be a rogue planet or a "failed star." Either way, the world wanders the cosmos without a parent. The cosmic orphan, or "free-floating planetary-mass object," designated SIMP 0136 drifts through the universe around 20 light-years from Earth — and it does so without a stellar anchor. SIMP 0136 has a mass that's around 13 times the mass of Jupiter, but it is around the same size as the solar system gas giant. Discovered in 2003, SIMP 0136 rotates so rapidly that a day on this rogue world lasts just around 2.4 Earth hours. There is a possibility that SIMP 0136 isn't a planet at all but is an object called a "brown dwarf," a stellar body that forms like a star but fails to gather enough mass to trigger the nuclear fusion of hydrogen to helium in its core. The confusion arises from the fact that these "failed stars" have a lower mass limit of around 13 times the mass of Jupiter — right around the mass of SIMP 0136, in fact. Because SIMP 0136 is relatively bright for an isolated planetary mass object and its light isn't contaminated by the light of a parent star, it has been a popular target for even before the JWST examined this object, a range of ground-based instruments as well as the Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes had studied it. These investigations, however, left astronomers with some puzzles surrounding SIMP 0136. Astronomers had previously discovered that SIMP 0136 fluctuates in brightness. It was reasoned that these changes couldn't simply be the result of clouds on the Jupiter-size world alone, but rather have to do with a complex combination of atmospheric factors. Using the JWST, the team was able to monitor infrared light from SIMP 0136 for two full rotations, observing variations in the world's cloud layers, temperature and even its chemistry. Many of the details the scientists observed were previously hidden from view. "We already knew that it varies in brightness, and we were confident that there are patchy cloud layers that rotate in and out of view and evolve over time," Allison McCarthy, study team leader and a researcher at Boston University, said in a statement. "We also thought there could be temperature variations, chemical reactions, and possibly some effects of auroral activity affecting the brightness, but we weren't sure." Observing SIMP 0136 with the JWST over two rotations allowed the team to use the telescope's Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) as well as its Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI). This meant the researchers could collect data in a wide range of wavelengths of infrared light. The result was hundreds of highly detailed light curves showing how each wavelength of infrared light changed in brightness as SIMP 0136 rotated."To see the full spectrum of this object change over the course of minutes was incredible," Johanna Vos , the team's principal investigator and a researcher at Trinity College Dublin, said in the statement. "Until now, we only had a little slice of the near-infrared spectrum from Hubble, and a few brightness measurements from Spitzer." The researchers noticed that the infrared light from SIMP 0136 had distinct light curve shapes, with some wavelengths brightening while others dimmed; the rest did not change at reasoned there must be various factors influencing these variations. "Imagine watching Earth from far away. If you were to look at each color separately, you would see different patterns that tell you something about its surface and atmosphere, even if you couldn't make out the individual features," Philip Muirhead, study team member and a researcher at Boston University, said in the statement. "Blue would increase as oceans rotate into view. Changes in brown and green would tell you something about soil and vegetation."To assess what is causing the light variations of SIMP 0136, the team developed atmospheric models to determine which regions of the atmosphere were responsible for which wavelength of light."Different wavelengths provide information about different depths in the atmosphere," McCarthy said. "We started to realize that the wavelengths that had the most similar light-curve shapes also probed the same depths, which reinforced this idea that they must be caused by the same mechanism." One band of infrared wavelengths originated from deep into the atmosphere of SIMP 0136 where the team suspects patchy clouds of iron particles lurk. Another wavelength grouping is thought to come from higher in the atmosphere and patchy clouds of silicates. The final set of wavelengths are theorized to originate from high above these clouds in relation to the temperature of SIMP 0136. Brighter areas could correspond with auroras detected around SIMP 0136 in these bright patches could be the result of hot gas traveling upwards through the atmosphere of SIMP 0136. Related Stories: — 'Roasting marshmallow' exoplanet is so hot, it rains metal. How did it form? — Extreme 'hot Jupiter' exoplanet stinks like rotten eggs and has raging glass storms — Iron winds and molten metal rains ravage a hellish hot Jupiter exoplanet There are light curves that the JWST saw from SIMP 0136 that can't be explained by either the object's clouds or its could be influenced by the carbon chemistry of SIMP 0136's atmosphere, as pockets of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide rotated in and out of the JWST's view. Another explanation could be chemical reactions causing changes in the atmosphere of SIMP 0136. "We haven't really figured out the chemistry part of the puzzle yet, but these results are really exciting because they are showing us that the abundances of molecules like methane and carbon dioxide could change from place to place and over time," Vos said. "If we are looking at an exoplanet and can get only one measurement, we need to consider that it might not be representative of the entire planet." The team's research was published on Monday (March 3) in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.
