Star Life Cycles - Brown Dwarfs
Stars and NebulaeIndex
Interstellar Clouds Questions Credits Links Michael Gallagher August 2002 July 2007 |
After Edward Martin et Al, American Scientist 1997 Brown Dwarfs are interstellar cloud condensates that almost became stars. They form from relatively small amounts of gas. Their internal gravitation pressure is high enough to support partial nuclear fusion. They are very dim. Astronomers have only just begun to find them. There are conflicting theories about how plentiful they will prove to be. Brown Dwarf Details Mass: 0.02 to 0.08 Suns (20 to 80 Jupiters) Surface Temperature: 900° to 2,700° K Lifetime: Trillions of years. End point: Gradual loss of heat and slow fade to a dark body. |
