Friday, March 20, 2026

This Pair Of Brown Dwarfs Can't Get Enough Of Each Other

Astronomers have found binary pair of brown dwarfs that are transferring mass from one to another. Though mass transfer between binary objects isn't rare, this is the first time it's been observed in brown dwarfs. The pair will either eventually merge and become a brighter star, or one will continue to become more massive and eventually ignite fusion. Image Credit: Caltech/R. Hurt (IPAC)

Astronomers have found the first case of a brown dwarf binary pair experiencing mass transfer. The pair are very close to one another, with an orbital period of only 57 minutes. The pair will eventually merge into one, brighter star, or the accretor will become massive enough to trigger fusion. At only 1,000 light-years away, the system is a strong candidate for more detailed, follow-up observations.



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