In recent years, the search for exomoons has become more challenging. Despite the discovery of 6,000 outer planets or exoplanets in our solar system, Eksokuu, a moon that orbits a planet or celestial body outside our own solar system, has remained elusive. Moons are typically much smaller than the planets they orbit and are common in our solar system, but the discovery of exomoons has been more difficult to achieve.
However, a recent discovery by the James Webb Space Telescope has given researchers hope that Eksokuu may be out there after all. The telescope made an indirect discovery of an exomoon orbiting a brown dwarf, which is not a planet but a dark “failed star.” Brown dwarfs are larger than Jupiter but have not begun a nuclear reaction to become a star, resulting in a dark celestial body.
The Webb detected surprising methane emissions from the brown dwarf known as W1935, leading researchers to believe that there may be a moon or moons orbiting the brown dwarf. The presence of methane emissions on W1935 suggests that there may be a nearby energy source, possibly a moon interacting with the brown dwarf. Infrared modeling revealed that W1935 has a “temperature inversion,” warming the atmosphere from top to bottom, which was unexpected.
Furthermore, an aurora borealis was observed on W1935 similar to those seen on Jupiter and Saturn, indicating possible activity from a nearby moon. However, since it is not close to its parent star and no other known energy source exists in its vicinity, further research is needed to confirm if an exomoon is indeed orbiting this brown dwarf for the first time.
This discovery highlights how important it is for scientists to continue their efforts to explore and understand our universe beyond Earth’s boundaries. With new technologies like the James Webb Space Telescope at their disposal
