Astrophysical object
Brown Dwarf
Cosmology & UniverseEstablished Science
Definition
A 'failed star' too massive to be a planet but too light to sustain hydrogen fusion.
Scientific overview
Brown dwarfs occupy the gap between the largest planets and the smallest stars, roughly 13 to 80 Jupiter masses. They glow faintly from residual heat and were confirmed observationally in 1995.
Measured by
Knowledge connections
- Measured byWISE
Sources & references
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.