Chapter 1: Discovering New Cosmic Neighbors

The universe may seem vast and unreachable for humanity, yet intriguing discoveries are unfolding right in our cosmic vicinity. A recent collaboration involving thousands of volunteer citizen scientists has led to the identification of 95 new brown dwarfs, showcasing the potential of collective effort in scientific exploration. This endeavor emerged from a joint initiative between professional researchers and enthusiastic members of the public.

The project, funded by NASA, involved meticulous analysis of an immense dataset composed of trillions of pixels, yielding remarkable results published in the Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 initiative. The data was collected using advanced instruments, including NASA's Near-Earth Object Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE), the now-retired Spitzer Space Telescope, and facilities from the National Science Foundation's NOIRLab. Follow-up observations were also carried out at Mont Megantic Observatory and Las Campanas Observatory.

The first video discusses the intriguing characteristics of a brown dwarf that has Earth-like temperatures and explores the possibility of life in such environments.

Backyard Worlds has already contributed to the discovery of over 1,500 stars and brown dwarfs in proximity to our solar system. To clarify, brown dwarfs are celestial objects that exhibit traits of both gas giants and stars—they are too large to be classified as planets yet too small to be considered stars. When observed closely, they often appear magenta or orange-red and can exhibit extreme heat.

Interestingly, while the existence of brown dwarfs is not unprecedented, the recently discovered specimens possess a unique feature: they are cooler than the boiling point of water, with some nearing Earth's temperatures, making them potentially capable of hosting water clouds. Notably, in 2014, the coldest known brown dwarf, WISE 0855, was identified using data from NASA's WISE mission, registering temperatures as low as minus 23 degrees Celsius (or minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit).

As lead author Aaron Meisner noted, “These cool worlds provide an opportunity for deeper understanding of the formation and atmospheric conditions of exoplanets. This collection of frigid brown dwarfs enables us to better estimate the number of free-floating worlds that roam interstellar space near our Sun.”

Brown dwarfs are characterized by low mass, reduced temperatures, and a lack of internal nuclear reactions, making them faint and challenging to detect. This is where the dedicated efforts of over 100,000 citizen scientists come into play, as they meticulously examine telescope images to identify the subtle movements indicative of these celestial bodies. Brown dwarfs emit heat primarily in the form of infrared light, which is detectable by telescopes.

The identification of these cold brown dwarfs fills a crucial gap in our understanding of these cosmic entities. Gaining insights into the characteristics of objects near our solar system is vital for comprehending our place in the universe and the evolution of galaxies, stars, and planets over billions of years. The study involved the contributions of 20 citizen scientists from 10 different countries and was published in the Astrophysical Journal, also accessible on the preprint server arXiv.org.

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Chapter 2: Backyard Worlds - Cool Neighbors

The second video showcases "Backyard Worlds: Cool Neighbors," presented by Aaron Meisner, highlighting the collaborative efforts and discoveries made possible through citizen science.