brown dwarf
Let an agent describe brown dwarfs by designation, spectral type, mass, temperature and detection, with sourced data.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent describe brown dwarfs by designation, spectral type, mass, temperature and detection, with sourced data.
A substellar object more massive than a planet (roughly 13-80 Jupiter masses) but not massive enough to sustain hydrogen fusion; brown dwarfs glow faintly in infrared and are classed as L, T and Y types.
What it is for: A class of objects bridging stars and planets.
It can be classify by spectral type; estimate mass and age; detect in infrared surveys; study atmospheres.
Distinguishing features
No sustained hydrogen fusion
Deuterium burning in heavier ones
Cool atmospheres with clouds
Fade over time
What it looks like
Dim, reddish to magenta objects visible mainly in infrared.
Physical character
mass: about 13-80 Jupiter masses
surface temperature: about 250-3000 K - Y to L types
How it is recognised
Spectral types L, T, Y
Designations from surveys such as WISE
Planetary-mass objects are lighter
Related models
is a kind of - category
is contrasted with - neighbours
is detected by - method
is studied by - field
In practice
Families and kinds
L-type brown dwarfs
T-type brown dwarfs
Y-type brown dwarfs
binary brown dwarfs
Identifiers
survey designation WISE or 2MASS names catalogues
Standards and regulation
IAU nomenclature
Failure modes and hazards
Confusing with planets or red dwarfs
Uncertain mass estimates stated as exact
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Identity Which brown dwarf.
Designations identify.
Designation
Name.
Designation
Designation.
- What is its designation? provenance
- In which survey was it found? provenance
Type
Spectral class.
Type
Spectral type.
- What is its spectral type? definition
- How was it classified? provenance
Properties Measurements.
Properties need sources.
Mass
Estimate.
Mass
Mass.
- What is its estimated mass, and how uncertain? measurement
- How was it estimated? provenance
Temperature
Atmosphere.
Temperature
Temperature.
- What is its temperature? measurement
- What molecules appear in its spectrum? measurement
Boundaries Star or planet.
Boundaries are debated.
Upper limit
Stars.
Upper
Stellar boundary.
- Is it below the hydrogen fusion limit? boundary
- How certain is that? boundary
Lower limit
Planets.
Lower
Planetary boundary.
- Is it above the deuterium limit or classed by formation? boundary
- Which definition is used? definition
Observing Detection.
Brown dwarfs are faint.
Instruments
Infrared telescopes.
Instruments
Instruments.
- Which telescopes observed it? provenance
- In which bands? definition
Nearby
Distance.
Nearby
Distance.
- How far away is it? measurement
- Is it among the nearest known? provenance
What the second pass must settle
- Should spectral types be separate entries?
- How should survey catalogues be linked?
- How should the mass boundaries be recorded?