WISE 0855 shows evidence of evolving water clouds

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have found new evidence of water clouds in the atmosphere of WISE 0855, a celestial object located approximately 7.5 light-years from Earth.

WISE 0855, formally known as WISE J085510.83−071442.5, is classified as a brown dwarf, often referred to as a “failed star.” It lacks the mass required to sustain the hydrogen fusion processes that power stars like the Sun. The object sits on the boundary between brown dwarfs and gas giant planets, possessing a size comparable to Jupiter but with a mass only a few times greater.

Unlike typical stars, WISE 0855 is extremely cold, with temperatures estimated to be only a few degrees above or below zero. The discovery of evolving water or ice clouds in its atmosphere provides significant insights into the nature of worlds existing beyond our solar system.