The unusual object appears to be the coldest brown dwarf in the known Universe at -13°C.
Currently known as WISE J085510.83-071442.5 (catchy, isn't it?), the oddity is only 7.2 light-years away and was discovered by NASA's Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) and Kevin Luhman, a Penn State University astronomer.
The object is a brown dwarf, which start their lives like stars as collapsing balls of gas, but lack the mass to burn nuclear fuel and radiate starlight.
Because they're so much smaller and cooler than stars, brown dwarfs look red and faint. But astronomers noticed this neighbour of our solar system was especially red and faint. It turns out that's because it's tiny - perhaps only three to 10 times the mass of Jupiter - and freezing cold, literally. It's around the temperature of the Earth's North Pole.
The reason behind the frosty temperature could be that the object isn't a brown dwarf at all, but a rogue planet. It could also be really old, i09 reports.
To add to the mystery, WISE J085510.83-071442.5 is also moving unusually fast.
Watch this space, guys, this could turn out to be an interesting one.
Currently known as WISE J085510.83-071442.5 (catchy, isn't it?), the oddity is only 7.2 light-years away and was discovered by NASA's Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) and Kevin Luhman, a Penn State University astronomer.
The object is a brown dwarf, which start their lives like stars as collapsing balls of gas, but lack the mass to burn nuclear fuel and radiate starlight.
Because they're so much smaller and cooler than stars, brown dwarfs look red and faint. But astronomers noticed this neighbour of our solar system was especially red and faint. It turns out that's because it's tiny - perhaps only three to 10 times the mass of Jupiter - and freezing cold, literally. It's around the temperature of the Earth's North Pole.
The reason behind the frosty temperature could be that the object isn't a brown dwarf at all, but a rogue planet. It could also be really old, i09 reports.
To add to the mystery, WISE J085510.83-071442.5 is also moving unusually fast.
Watch this space, guys, this could turn out to be an interesting one.
Source: i09
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