astronomy

WISE 0535−7500

WISE 0535−7500 is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand WISE 0535−7500 rather than just read about it. In short: WISE J053516.80−750024.9 (designation abbreviated to WISE 0535−7500) is a possible binary system of two Y1-class brown dwarfs, in the constellation Mensa. Based on its parallax, its distance is roughly 48 light-years (14.6 parsecs).

Key takeaways

WISE 0535−7500 belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect WISE 0535−7500 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of WISE 0535−7500 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

WISE J053516.80−750024.9 (designation abbreviated to WISE 0535−7500) is a possible binary system of two Y1-class brown dwarfs, in the constellation Mensa. Based on its parallax, its distance is roughly 48 light-years (14.6 parsecs).

History of observations WISE 0535−7500 was discovered in 2012 by J. Davy Kirkpatrick et al. from data, collected by Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) Earth-orbiting satellite—NASA infrared-wavelength 40-centimetre (16 in) space telescope, which mission lasted from December 2009 to February 2011. In 2012 Kirkpatrick et al. published a paper in The Astrophysical Journal, where they presented the discovery of seven new found by WISE brown dwarfs of spectral type Y, among which also was WISE 0535−7500. In 2014, it was found that WISE 0535 is more luminous than predicted by atmospheric models. In 2016, it was suggested that such an over-luminosity could be explained if it is, in fact, a binary system of similar components. Close imaging has not revealed any companions within the detection capacities, implying that the separation between the components is less than 1.9 astronomical units. One 2024 study found that while the overluminosity could be reasonably explained by a metal-poor atmosphere, an unresolved binary system is a better possibility. The primary was estimated to have a mass of 18 MJ and an effective temperature of 450 K (177 °C; 350 °F), while the secondary has an estimated mass of 12 MJ and an effective temperature of 350 K (77 °C; 170 °F), with a system age of 5 Gyr. Similarly, a 2026 study found that the overluminosity can be explained by either binarity or a high surface gravity with or without a metal-poor atmosphere. The components would have temperatures of 480 K (207 °C; 404 °F) and 340 K (67 °C; 152 °F) with a near-solar metallicity. For the case that WISE 0535 is single star, a mass of 22+3−4 MJ, a radius of 1.53±0.04 RJ and an effective temperature of 395 ± 6 K (121.85 ± 6.00 °C; 251.33 ± 10.80 °F) have been measured. WISE 0535−7500 was studied with JWST by Beiler et al. in 2024 together with 22 other late-T and Y-dwarfs. WISE 0535−7500 stands out due to it having no discernable CO2 band and an almost undetectable CO band. This could be due a low metallicity or high surface gravity. These features make this object extremely red in Spitzer colors. This object also showed stronger NH3 absorption when compared to objects of the same temperature. Other common prominent features like H2O and CH4 are present in its spectrum. But like other late-T and Y-dwarfs it is missing PH3, which is predicted to occur for these objects.

See also List of star systems within 45–50 light-years List of Y-dwarfs

References

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with WISE 0535−7500

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what WISE 0535−7500 claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to WISE 0535−7500 before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about WISE 0535−7500 ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of WISE 0535−7500

In research: WISE 0535−7500 appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses WISE 0535−7500 in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: WISE 0535−7500 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Astronomical objects discovered in 2012, Brown dwarfs, Mensa (constellation), so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for WISE 0535−7500 outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study WISE 0535−7500 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what WISE 0535−7500 means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain WISE 0535−7500 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is WISE 0535−7500 in simple terms?

Why does WISE 0535−7500 matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study WISE 0535−7500?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on WISE 0535−7500.