Webb Telescope Reveals Weather Patterns on Brown Dwarf
The James Webb Space Telescope observed water clouds and gas chemistry on the cold brown dwarf WISE 0855.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Space
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On December 2, 2023, the James Webb Space Telescope conducted an 11-hour observation of WISE 0855, the coldest known brown dwarf at 17°F (-8°C). The study revealed fluctuating water clouds and shifts in carbon monoxide and phosphine levels in the atmosphere.
Why it matters
Previous telescope data could not distinguish between cloud layers and chemical composition, but these new measurements confirm that warm gas is transported from the interior to the upper atmosphere. This helps scientists better understand the complex weather systems present in objects located 7.4 light-years from Earth.
Researchers recorded infrared light spectra every 15 minutes during the 11-hour observation period to analyze atmospheric changes. Cloud patterns accounted for 60 percent of brightness variations, while gas patterns accounted for 5 percent.
The players
James Webb Space Telescope
This is a space telescope designed primarily to conduct infrared astronomy and currently serves as the premier observatory for deep space research.
Spitzer Space Telescope
Managed by NASA, this infrared observatory provided critical historical data on deep-space objects before its retirement in 2020.
The details
The team compared light data against computer models to track how the object's temperature shifted by 2°F (1°C) during cloud changes. Findings published in The Astrophysical Journal suggest that deep atmospheric variations may stem from wind bands or stationary storms.
Timeline
In 2015, the Spitzer Space Telescope measured initial brightness changes on WISE 0855.
On December 2, 2023, the James Webb Space Telescope observed the object for 11 hours.
The Big Picture
The findings published in The Astrophysical Journal establish a new paradigm for studying substellar atmospheric dynamics. By identifying gas transport and cloud formation, this research moves beyond legacy models that treated these bodies as uniform spheres.
Understanding the complex cloud formations and chemical cycles on brown dwarfs provides a blueprint for scientists analyzing the atmospheres of distant exoplanets. This research could eventually refine our ability to detect signs of water and weather patterns on planets orbiting other stars.
The takeaway
Advancements in infrared telescope technology allow researchers to detect subtle atmospheric variations that were previously invisible. These methods allow astronomers to map out complex weather phenomena even on the coldest objects in space.
Further reading
For more information on recent infrared discoveries, explore the Space section.
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