Exoplanets and Brown Dwarfs

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What is an exoplanet?

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An exoplanet is a planet that orbits a star outside our solar system.

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What is a brown dwarf?

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A brown dwarf is a substellar object that is too massive to be a planet but not massive enough to sustain hydrogen fusion like a star.

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What is the significance of the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission?

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The WISE mission was launched to survey the entire sky in infrared light, helping to identify and study brown dwarfs and other celestial objects.

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How do astronomers detect exoplanets?

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Astronomers detect exoplanets using methods such as the transit method, radial velocity method, and direct imaging.

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What is the transit method of detecting exoplanets?

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The transit method involves observing the dimming of a star's light as a planet passes in front of it.

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What is the difference between a main-sequence star and a brown dwarf?

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A main-sequence star fuses hydrogen in its core, while a brown dwarf does not sustain hydrogen fusion.

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What was the first exoplanet discovered orbiting a main-sequence star?

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The first exoplanet discovered orbiting a main-sequence star was 51 Pegasi b.

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What is the temperature range of brown dwarfs?

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Brown dwarfs have temperatures ranging from about 300 K to 2,500 K.

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What is the role of the Hubble Space Telescope in exoplanet research?

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The Hubble Space Telescope has been used to study the atmospheres of exoplanets and gather data on their composition.

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What is the significance of the discovery of 2M1207b?

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2M1207b was the first exoplanet to be directly imaged, providing valuable insights into the formation of planetary systems.