Discoveries in Astronomy: Abandoned Celestial Bodies
New research reveals that even celestial bodies can indeed be abandoned. Scientists have discovered that brown dwarfs often are born in pairs, only to end up alone later.
Origin and End of Brown Dwarfs
Brown dwarfs originate similarly to stars. This process typically takes place within large gas clouds, where they – just like stars – can collapse. However, brown dwarfs are too light to undergo nuclear fusion, thus earning them the moniker of ‘failed stars’. During this process, it is possible for two brown dwarfs to emerge in parallel, akin to twins. This dynamic duo subsequently waltzes around each other. However, scientists have deduced that a day will eventually come when their ‘twin’ abandons each brown dwarf. This conclusion emerged from the latest research conducted by NASA and ESA, where they monitored brown dwarfs using the Hubble Space Telescope.
Scientific Insights
Scientist Clémence Fontanive, who contributed to the study, explains: “Our research confirms that such systems often do not survive. This is because the molecular cloud will eventually dissipate, setting celestial bodies into motion. The bond between the two brown dwarfs is incredibly weak due to their light weight, making it very easy for larger stars in proximity to pull these brown dwarfs away from each other.” The study was published in The Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
The Role of Hubble Space Telescope
For the research, scientists utilized the Hubble Space Telescope. The primary reason behind this was the telescope’s capability to accurately spot these ‘twins’ – even when the brown dwarfs are close to each other. During the study, the Hubble Space Telescope was focused on a select number of brown dwarfs, which were previously selected by NASA’s Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer.
Findings and Analysis
The Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer, for the study, primarily selected the lightest brown dwarfs. During the analysis of these brown dwarfs, it became evident that something unusual was happening – not a single brown dwarf had a twin nearby. This was a surprising discovery, as previous research by Fontanive had shown that brown dwarfs occasionally get born in pairs. Fontanive states: “This is the most compelling evidence to date that brown dwarfs will eventually part ways.”
Implications and Conclusions
The findings of the study are significant as they shed light on the impact of mass on trends in star systems. Fellow scientist and team member Beth Biller concludes: “Most stars have companions. This could be a binary partner (as is sometimes the case with brown dwarfs), or several nearby exoplanets. However, this study reveals that this rule does not apply to brown dwarfs. For these celestial bodies, we have discovered that the majority will indeed end up alone in due course.”
