Brown dwarfs, objects intermediate between stars and planets, do not sustain hydrogen fusion and instead radiate faint heat generated internally. Though discovered decades ago, detailed studies of their atmospheric composition have been limited to few space-based observations. NASA’s SPHEREx telescope, operational since 2025, is conducting an all-sky infrared survey detecting thousands of these free-floating substellar objects.
Recent analysis of SPHEREx data on dozens of nearby brown dwarfs confirms complex, cloudy atmospheres chemically similar to gas giants like Jupiter. These findings contribute new empirical data beyond theoretical models, improving understanding of brown dwarf formation, composition, and evolution distinct from planets orbiting stars.
Source & further reading
NASA’s SPHEREx Telescope Sees Menagerie of Brown Dwarfs ↗Source published 2026-10-08. This report was prepared with AI assistance from the linked primary-source material. Claims and limitations should be checked against the original announcement or research.