Astronomers suspect these objects began their lives like stars. However, this object however did not accumulate sufficient mass to sustain nuclear fusion in its core.
In contrast, brown dwarfs slowly cool and dim over millions or billions of years until they are nothing more than dull red or purple embers.
The Accident appeared during one of NASA’s Near-Earth Object Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) surveys, when a scientist caught a glimpse of an object swooping across the screen. The Accident baffled scientists after its shocking discovery. Because the object does not look like a brown dwarf in general.
The Accident appears dim in some infrared wavelengths. It shows as a very cold and aged brown dwarf.
“This object defied all of our expectations,” said study author and astrophysicist at Caltech in Pasadena, California, Davy Kirkpatrick, in a statement. Livescience on Friday (3/9).
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