Astrophysical Journal Letters reports that astronomers have discovered twin brown dwarfs orbiting each other at a distance 17 light-years. The find, which is in the direction of the Antlia constellation, was made using the Spitzer Space Telescope.
Brown dwarfs, also known as failed stars, are balls of gas that are much hotter and larger than planets but do not have enough mass or high enough temperatures to be considered stars.
The find is also a breakthrough in terms of low brightness observation. "Both of these objects are the first to break the barrier of one-millionth the total light-emitting power of the sun," said Adam Burgasser from the Mass. Institute of Technology.
