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Science-Related Homework Help Physics Topic started by: barry on Aug 2, 2013



Title: Why are brown dwarfs difficult to detect? Why have we had recent successes?
Post by: barry on Aug 2, 2013
Why are brown dwarfs difficult to detect?  Why have we had recent successes?


Title: Re: Why are brown dwarfs difficult to detect? Why have we had recent successes?
Post by: nite_n_day on Aug 2, 2013
They are too cool to ignite nuclear fusion, so shine feebly only by the energy of gravitational contraction, and that does not last nearly as long as main sequence fusion would.  We now have infrared surveys, such as 2MASS, that can pick up the heat of these cool stars much better than in visible light.


Title: Re: Why are brown dwarfs difficult to detect? Why have we had recent successes?
Post by: barry on Aug 3, 2013
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