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SPHEREx finds water and common gases in atmospheres of 37 brown dwarfs

NASA space telescope survey detected four key molecules across all observed brown dwarfs, results published 12 October 2026

Luisa Marconi
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NASA telescope discovers water and gases in brown dwarf atmospheres
NASA telescope discovers water and gases in brown dwarf atmospheres AI illustrationhow this picture was made
PASADENA, USA, Oct. 8, 2026 - NASA's SPHEREx telescope has observed brown dwarfs,[1] and astronomers examining 37 of them found that all carry atmospheres rich in water, methane, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.[2] SPHEREx measures light in 102 distinct wavelength bands, from deep red to infrared, and identifies molecules by the gaps they leave in light escaping an atmosphere.[3] Space Nugget. Brown dwarfs are intermediate objects, too massive to be classified as planets but not massive enough to ignite the hydrogen fusion reaction that powers full stars.
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What this stands on
  1. NASA’s SPHEREx telescope observed brown dwarfs. · nasa.govUnited Statesofficial source
  2. Astronomers examined 37 brown dwarfs using NASA's SPHEREx space telescope and found their atmospheres are rich in water, methane, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. · ZME Science
  3. The SPHEREx telescope measures light in 102 distinct wavelength bands ranging from deep red to infrared wavelengths to identify molecules by the gaps they leave in escaping light. · ZME Science
The one we could place publishes from United States. 1 could not be placed by their address. 1 is an official body, so this traces to the document itself.