Module 06 · 6 min · Beginner
Brown Dwarfs
What makes them interesting
Compare: a cool supergiant (Betelgeuse) — note the flags
DR1 cubeExtracting spectrum from the science cube… 0.0s
Bright stars saturate SPHEREx detectors; orange points carry FLAGS. A genuine brown dwarf would be faint, with deep 1.4/1.9 µm water bands.
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Failed stars
Too light to sustain hydrogen fusion, brown dwarfs cool for ever. Their spectra show deep water and methane absorption.
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What to look for
A spectrum rising toward 1–2 µm with dips near 1.4 and 1.9 µm is suggestive — but dust reddening can mimic slope, so evidence must be combined.