News Astronomy

Sand clouds are common in atmospheres of brown dwarfs

Clouds of silicates confirm an old theory and reveal how these failed stars live

a brown dwarf, a failed star, illustrated against a black background

Brown dwarfs (one illustrated) have clouds made of sand minerals that grow and evolve throughout the dwarf’s lifetime.

JPL-Caltech/NASA

By Lisa Grossman

- More than 2 years ago

Clouds of sand can condense, grow and disappear in some extraterrestrial atmospheres. A new look at old data shows that clouds made of hot silicate minerals are common in celestial objects known as brown dwarfs.