Current Event Article Response No. 1 (For the Month of January, 2013)
{Link to original article: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2013-013&cid=release_2013-013}
" 'Brown Dwarf Found Around Nearby, Sun-Like Star'
Astronomers using adaptive optics on the Gemini North and Keck telescopes have taken an image of a brown dwarf orbiting a nearby star similar to the Sun. The faint companion is separated from its parent star by less than the distance between the Sun and the planet Uranus and is the smallest separation brown dwarf companion seen with direct imaging."
http://www.gemini.edu/node/52
Copy of Article Chosen:
Jan. 8, 2013 — Astronomers using NASA's Spitzer and Hubble space telescopes have probed the stormy atmosphere of a brown dwarf, creating the most detailed "weather map" yet for this class of cool, star-like orbs. The forecast shows wind-driven, planet-sized clouds enshrouding these strange worlds.
Brown dwarfs form out of condensing gas, as stars do, but lack the mass to fuse hydrogen atoms and produce energy. Instead, these objects, which some call failed stars, are more similar to gas planets with their complex, varied atmospheres. The new research is a stepping-stone toward a better understanding not only of brown dwarfs, but also of the atmospheres of planets beyond our solar system.
"With Hubble and Spitzer, we were able to look at different atmospheric layers of a brown dwarf, similar to the way doctors use medical imaging techniques to study the different tissues in your body," said Daniel Apai, the principal investigator of the research at the University of Arizona in Tucson, who presented the results at the American Astronomical Society meeting Tuesday in Long Beach, Calif.
A study describing the results, led by Esther Buenzli, also of the University of Arizona, is published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.
The researchers turned Hubble and Spitzer simultaneously toward a brown dwarf with the long name of 2MASSJ22282889-431026. They found that its light varied in time, brightening and dimming about every 90 minutes as the body rotated. But more surprising, the team also found the timing of this change in brightness depended on whether they looked using different wavelengths of infrared light.
These variations are the result of different layers or patches of material swirling around the brown dwarf in windy storms as large as Earth itself. Spitzer and Hubble see different atmospheric layers because certain infrared wavelengths are blocked by vapors of water and methane high up, while other infrared wavelengths emerge from much deeper layers.
"Unlike the water clouds of Earth or the ammonia clouds of Jupiter, clouds on brown dwarfs are composed of hot grains of sand, liquid drops of iron, and other exotic compounds," said Mark Marley, research scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., and co-author of the paper. "So this large atmospheric disturbance found by Spitzer and Hubble gives a new meaning to the concept of extreme weather."
Buenzli says this is the first time researchers can probe variability at several different altitudes at the same time in the atmosphere of a brown dwarf. "Although brown dwarfs are cool relative to other stars, they are actually hot by earthly standards. This particular object is about 1,100 to 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit (600 to 700 degrees Celsius)," Buenzli said.
"What we see here is evidence for massive, organized cloud systems, perhaps akin to giant versions of the Great Red Spot on Jupiter," said Adam Showman, a theorist at the University of Arizona involved in the research. "These out-of-sync light variations provide a fingerprint of how the brown dwarf's weather systems stack up vertically. The data suggest regions on the brown dwarf where the weather is cloudy and rich in silicate vapor deep in the atmosphere coincide with balmier, drier conditions at higher altitudes -- and vice versa."
Researchers plan to look at the atmospheres of dozens of additional nearby brown dwarfs using Spitzer and Hubble.
"From studies such as this we will learn much about this important class of objects, whose mass falls between that of stars and Jupiter-sized planets," said Glenn Wahlgren, Spitzer program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "This technique will see extensive use when we are able to image individual exoplanets."
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., manages the Spitzer Space Telescope mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Science operations are conducted at the Spitzer Science Center at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. Data are archived at the Infrared Science Archive housed at the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center at Caltech. Caltech manages JPL for NASA. For more information about Spitzer, visit http://spitzer.caltech.edu and http://www.nasa.gov/spitzer.
The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between NASA and the European Space Agency. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., manages the telescope. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Md., conducts Hubble science operations. STScI is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., in Washington. For more information about Hubble, visit http://www.hubblesite.org and http://www.nasa.gov/hubble.
Brown dwarfs form out of condensing gas, as stars do, but lack the mass to fuse hydrogen atoms and produce energy. Instead, these objects, which some call failed stars, are more similar to gas planets with their complex, varied atmospheres. The new research is a stepping-stone toward a better understanding not only of brown dwarfs, but also of the atmospheres of planets beyond our solar system.
"With Hubble and Spitzer, we were able to look at different atmospheric layers of a brown dwarf, similar to the way doctors use medical imaging techniques to study the different tissues in your body," said Daniel Apai, the principal investigator of the research at the University of Arizona in Tucson, who presented the results at the American Astronomical Society meeting Tuesday in Long Beach, Calif.
A study describing the results, led by Esther Buenzli, also of the University of Arizona, is published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.
The researchers turned Hubble and Spitzer simultaneously toward a brown dwarf with the long name of 2MASSJ22282889-431026. They found that its light varied in time, brightening and dimming about every 90 minutes as the body rotated. But more surprising, the team also found the timing of this change in brightness depended on whether they looked using different wavelengths of infrared light.
These variations are the result of different layers or patches of material swirling around the brown dwarf in windy storms as large as Earth itself. Spitzer and Hubble see different atmospheric layers because certain infrared wavelengths are blocked by vapors of water and methane high up, while other infrared wavelengths emerge from much deeper layers.
"Unlike the water clouds of Earth or the ammonia clouds of Jupiter, clouds on brown dwarfs are composed of hot grains of sand, liquid drops of iron, and other exotic compounds," said Mark Marley, research scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., and co-author of the paper. "So this large atmospheric disturbance found by Spitzer and Hubble gives a new meaning to the concept of extreme weather."
Buenzli says this is the first time researchers can probe variability at several different altitudes at the same time in the atmosphere of a brown dwarf. "Although brown dwarfs are cool relative to other stars, they are actually hot by earthly standards. This particular object is about 1,100 to 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit (600 to 700 degrees Celsius)," Buenzli said.
"What we see here is evidence for massive, organized cloud systems, perhaps akin to giant versions of the Great Red Spot on Jupiter," said Adam Showman, a theorist at the University of Arizona involved in the research. "These out-of-sync light variations provide a fingerprint of how the brown dwarf's weather systems stack up vertically. The data suggest regions on the brown dwarf where the weather is cloudy and rich in silicate vapor deep in the atmosphere coincide with balmier, drier conditions at higher altitudes -- and vice versa."
Researchers plan to look at the atmospheres of dozens of additional nearby brown dwarfs using Spitzer and Hubble.
"From studies such as this we will learn much about this important class of objects, whose mass falls between that of stars and Jupiter-sized planets," said Glenn Wahlgren, Spitzer program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "This technique will see extensive use when we are able to image individual exoplanets."
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., manages the Spitzer Space Telescope mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Science operations are conducted at the Spitzer Science Center at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. Data are archived at the Infrared Science Archive housed at the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center at Caltech. Caltech manages JPL for NASA. For more information about Spitzer, visit http://spitzer.caltech.edu and http://www.nasa.gov/spitzer.
The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between NASA and the European Space Agency. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., manages the telescope. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Md., conducts Hubble science operations. STScI is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., in Washington. For more information about Hubble, visit http://www.hubblesite.org and http://www.nasa.gov/hubble.
Reflective Writing and Summary on the Article Called
“NASA Telescopes See Weather Patterns in Brown Dwarf”
Reflective Writing:
In the manner in which I interpret this article’s information, it is apparent that learning more about this system of discovery is quite significant. This work is quite enlightening for someone (such as me) who is newly interested in meteorology and its varying aspects. The fact that this brown dwarf has been referred to as a “failed star” helps me to better understand the topic at-hand (mentioned above), but astronomy and physics, as well. Moreover, this study implies and demonstrates that scientists can more thoroughly categorize the true nature and behaviors of the multitudinous manifestations of cosmic imagery in outer-space. For, in the article, it is stated that, “From studies such as this we will learn much about this important class of objects, whose mass falls between that of stars and Jupiter-sized planets . . . . This technique will see extensive use when we are able to image individual exoplanets.” Fascinatingly enough, “These variations are the result of different layers or patches of material swirling around the brown dwarf in windy storms as large as Earth itself.” Lastly, it is illustrated that NASA’s Spitzer and Hubble space telescopes have been used, to probe “the stormy atmosphere of a brown dwarf, creating the most detailed ‘weather map’ yet for this class of cool, star-like orbs.” Indeed, I find it quite intriguing that the subject of meteorology can extend beyond the realm predetermined, it seems, out and farther away to the depths of the mystery of space. Again, this article has proven quite useful, in a manner of speaking.
Summary:
Here are the primary points and objectives that have revealed themselves to be significant to this new and exciting exploration in the field of science (specifically astronomy and meteorology):
Clouds recently seen are the size of some of our most recognized planets!
Brown dwarfs develop from condensing gas and are similar to planets.
The space telescopes, Hubble and Spitzer, have been utilized to image the varied atmosphere of a certain brown dwarf with a long, numeric name.
The brown dwarf's light varied in time, and brightening and dimming at different periods.
It has been discovered that the timing of this change of light quality can be affected by varying wavelengths of infrared.
Certain infrared wavelengths are kept from complete activation, by vapors of water and methane highly upward, while other infrared wavelengths come about from much deeper layers.
Clouds on brown dwarfs are comprised of hot grains of sand, liquid drops of iron, and other interesting compounds.
Scientists have found new meaning in the enlightening concept of strange and extreme weather patterns.
The actual temperature characteristic of this particular brown dwarf has been found. (Refer to article.)
There is now evidence for expansive and well-ordered cloud systems that demonstrate themselves to be conducive for learning more about the ways in which any atmosphere can operate.
The atmosphere of the brown dwarf is so mercurial that we have realized that there exists a marked predictability in its multiple facets of conduct.
This brown dwarf and its unique traits will help scientists to further study the many masses and systems in outer-space, and better understand the methods with which to organize study of our own atmosphere surrounding and within Earth, itself.
There are many researchers within and independent of several foundations, directly associated with this project--all or most of whom are dedicated to uncovering more and more truth pertaining to this newfound and thrilling discovery.
CURRENT EVENT ARTICLE NO. 2 RESPONSE
CURRENT EVENT ARTICLE NO. 3 RESPONSE
CURRENT EVENT ARTICLE NO. 4 RESPONSE
TRACKING A COLD FRONT - "LIVE"
In the manner in which I interpret this article’s information, it is apparent that learning more about this system of discovery is quite significant. This work is quite enlightening for someone (such as me) who is newly interested in meteorology and its varying aspects. The fact that this brown dwarf has been referred to as a “failed star” helps me to better understand the topic at-hand (mentioned above), but astronomy and physics, as well. Moreover, this study implies and demonstrates that scientists can more thoroughly categorize the true nature and behaviors of the multitudinous manifestations of cosmic imagery in outer-space. For, in the article, it is stated that, “From studies such as this we will learn much about this important class of objects, whose mass falls between that of stars and Jupiter-sized planets . . . . This technique will see extensive use when we are able to image individual exoplanets.” Fascinatingly enough, “These variations are the result of different layers or patches of material swirling around the brown dwarf in windy storms as large as Earth itself.” Lastly, it is illustrated that NASA’s Spitzer and Hubble space telescopes have been used, to probe “the stormy atmosphere of a brown dwarf, creating the most detailed ‘weather map’ yet for this class of cool, star-like orbs.” Indeed, I find it quite intriguing that the subject of meteorology can extend beyond the realm predetermined, it seems, out and farther away to the depths of the mystery of space. Again, this article has proven quite useful, in a manner of speaking.
Summary:
Here are the primary points and objectives that have revealed themselves to be significant to this new and exciting exploration in the field of science (specifically astronomy and meteorology):
Clouds recently seen are the size of some of our most recognized planets!
Brown dwarfs develop from condensing gas and are similar to planets.
The space telescopes, Hubble and Spitzer, have been utilized to image the varied atmosphere of a certain brown dwarf with a long, numeric name.
The brown dwarf's light varied in time, and brightening and dimming at different periods.
It has been discovered that the timing of this change of light quality can be affected by varying wavelengths of infrared.
Certain infrared wavelengths are kept from complete activation, by vapors of water and methane highly upward, while other infrared wavelengths come about from much deeper layers.
Clouds on brown dwarfs are comprised of hot grains of sand, liquid drops of iron, and other interesting compounds.
Scientists have found new meaning in the enlightening concept of strange and extreme weather patterns.
The actual temperature characteristic of this particular brown dwarf has been found. (Refer to article.)
There is now evidence for expansive and well-ordered cloud systems that demonstrate themselves to be conducive for learning more about the ways in which any atmosphere can operate.
The atmosphere of the brown dwarf is so mercurial that we have realized that there exists a marked predictability in its multiple facets of conduct.
This brown dwarf and its unique traits will help scientists to further study the many masses and systems in outer-space, and better understand the methods with which to organize study of our own atmosphere surrounding and within Earth, itself.
There are many researchers within and independent of several foundations, directly associated with this project--all or most of whom are dedicated to uncovering more and more truth pertaining to this newfound and thrilling discovery.
CURRENT EVENT ARTICLE NO. 2 RESPONSE
CURRENT EVENT ARTICLE NO. 3 RESPONSE
CURRENT EVENT ARTICLE NO. 4 RESPONSE
TRACKING A COLD FRONT - "LIVE"
