Huge Brown Dwarf!

To begin, in an article published on sciencedaily.com called “Astronomers Identify Purest, Most Massive Brown Dwarf,” perfectly fits in with our 12th conceptual objective on how astronomers use the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram to study properties of stars. The article begins taking about how astronomers discovered a giant Brown Dwarf. Furthermore, the article describes that a Dwarf is not a star or a planet and it is too small to go into a nuclear fusion but these Dwarf’s are somewhat bigger than planets. Next, this giant brown dwarf is called SDSS J0104+1535 it is composed of over 250 more times densest of gas more than the sun consists of. The type of gases with star contains hydrogen and helium. Also,  SDSS J0104+1535 mass is suppose to be almost up to 90 percent of equivalency to of Jupiter. Based on these results, it means this is the biggest Brown Dwarf to ever be located and discovered. To conclude, the article talks about how astronomers never thought a Brown Dwarf  could have such purity in its gas and also, it has been identified as L type ultra-sub dwarf.

This article fits in our conceptual objective because of the H-R diagram. We learned through our power point style presentation an H-R diagram is a graph that places stars luminosity versus their actual temperature or it can take the color of a star and place it fourth their absolute magnitude. Based, on our lectured-tutorial called “The H-R Diagram” we found out that on top, of the diagram it shows different types of Spectral ranging from O, B, A, F, G, K M. On, the most left side of the diagram you will see the luminosity which is purely based on solar units. The right side of the diagram is the Absolute Magnitude of a star and at the bottom of the diagram you will find the temperature measured in K. In the diagram you will see a couple different things you will see White Dwarfs, Red Giants, and the Main Sequence. The main sequence is where most of the stars in the galaxy are on it because most stars are constantly fusing hydrogen into helium. In which, it keeps most of these stars in this sequence but with this not all stars are a part of this sequence. For an example, you will find White Dwarfs at the bottom left side of the graph because White dwarf are extremely hot and small. While, Red Giants are on the top right of the graph because of their cooler temperatures and have a bigger absolute magnitude. Extending, the diagram to fit Brown Dwarf’s such as SDSS J0104+1535 you would find them at the bottom right corner of the diagram because of their cooler temperatures and smaller sizes compared to the stars on the main sequence, White Dwarfs, and Red Giants.

To conclude, because of our lectured-tutorial we did in class and the notes from the presentation about the Main Sequence; I was fully able to understand the H-R diagram. With the understanding of the diagram, I was able to imply the diagram towards this Giant Brown Dwarf and place it onto the diagram it self. This gave me a huge understand on how astronomers use the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram to study properties of stars such as like I did with this Giant Brown Dwarf. Also, I found it very interesting that these Dwarf’s have the capabilities of being bigger than planets. Personally, I thought planets were the biggest objects in the sky until, I read and evaluated this article.

By,

Jacob Ybarra.