Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery by detecting methane in the atmosphere of WISEA J181006.18−101000.5 , the closest T dwarf to Earth, located just 29 light years away. This exciting revelation, reported in a study published on March 28, 2025, in arXiv , is the result of observations taken using the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), one of the world’s most powerful telescopes.
WISEA J181006.18−101000.5, also known as WISE1810, is a T-dwarf notable for having low metallic content and an effective temperature ranging from 800 to 1,300 Kelvin. Initially categorized under the L-type dwarfs due to some characteristics, further observations confirming the presence of methane led to its classification as a T dwarf. This identification provides significant insight into these fascinating objects positioned between stars and planets in terms of both mass and heat.
Details of the Discovery
Utilizing the Multicomponent Infrared Spectrograph (EMIR) on the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), a research group headed by Jerry Zhang from the University of La Laguna in Spain clearly detected methane in the atmosphere of WISE1810. This discovery challenges previous investigations which indicated that the celestial body could be part of an alternative classification category. L-type dwarfs The discovery of methane—a crucial component that defines T dwarfs—has now verified the actual nature of the celestial body.
WISE1810 with a radius roughly 0.65 times that of Jupiter and a mass about 17 times greater than Jupiter is situated among celestial bodies that are cooler and emit less light compared to stars. The presence of methane detected here reinforces its categorization under the T-dwarf class since methane is a key feature distinguishing these types. Additionally, the research found neither signs of carbon monoxide nor traces of potassium in its atmosphere, shedding more light on its distinctive chemical makeup.
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