astronomy

WISE J0336−0143

WISE J0336−0143 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 J0336−0143 rather than just read about it. In short: WISE J033605.05−014350.4, abbreviated to WISE J0336−0143 or W0336, is a binary system comprising two planetary-mass Y-type brown dwarfs tightly orbiting around their common center of mass. The system is located in the constellation Eridanus, about 33 light-years (10 parsecs) away from the Sun.

Key takeaways

WISE J0336−0143 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 J0336−0143 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of WISE J0336−0143 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

WISE J033605.05−014350.4, abbreviated to WISE J0336−0143 or W0336, is a binary system comprising two planetary-mass Y-type brown dwarfs tightly orbiting around their common center of mass. The system is located in the constellation Eridanus, about 33 light-years (10 parsecs) away from the Sun. It was discovered in images taken by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) and formally published by Gregory N. Mace and collaborators in March 2013. Astronomers suspected the brown dwarf was a binary system upon follow-up observations showing it had an unusual infrared spectrum, but its binarity was not confirmed until the James Webb Space Telescope resolved the system's components in high-resolution NIRCam imaging in September 2022, with its results published in March 2023. The two components orbit their system barycenter approximately every 7 years and are separated 0.97 astronomical units from each other, which is slightly less than the distance between the Sun and Earth. The brighter primary component has a temperature of 415 K and a mass within the range of 8.5–18 Jupiter masses, while the fainter secondary component has a temperature of 325 K and a mass range of 5–11.5 Jupiter masses. Because the binary system's age and evolutionary stage have not been determined yet, the individual components' masses are uncertain. Nevertheless, both components appear to have masses near the deuterium fusion threshold of 13 Jupiter masses, which marks the boundary between gas giant planets and brown dwarfs. The study of such low-mass binary systems will provide valuable insight into the formation and evolution of planetary-mass objects. The secondary component WISE J0336−0143 B (305–340 K) might be one of the coldest objects in interstellar space discovered so far (as of September 2023). Newer models of Y dwarfs produce an even colder temperature of 285–305 K for WISE J0336−0143 B. WISE 0855−0714 remains the coldest object found so far with 225–260 K and WISE J0830+2837 has a similar temperature with 300–350 K. Models suggest that WISE J0336−0143 B might have water clouds, but it is possible that changes in the pressure–temperature profile might instead explain the color of cold Y dwarfs. JWST photometry shows that WISE J0336−0143 B is significantly bluer than WISE 0855−0714. This blue color is seen as a likely indicator of water ice clouds.

Image gallery

See also CWISEP J1935−1546 – second Y+Y binary discovered CFBDSIR J145829+101343 – binary system of T9 + Y0 brown dwarfs WISE 1217+1626 – binary system of T9 + Y0 brown dwarfs WISE 1711+3500 – binary system of T8 + T9.5 brown dwarfs List of coolest stars List of star systems within 30–35 light-years List of Y-dwarfs

References

External links The First Y+Y Binary: Cool Brown Dwarfs Come in Pairs, Ben Cassese, AAS Nova, 28 April 2023 Y Dwarf Compendium – WISE 0336-0143

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with WISE J0336−0143

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what WISE J0336−0143 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 J0336−0143 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 J0336−0143 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 J0336−0143

In research: WISE J0336−0143 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 J0336−0143 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 J0336−0143 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Astronomical objects discovered in 2013, Binary stars, Brown dwarfs, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for WISE J0336−0143 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 J0336−0143 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what WISE J0336−0143 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 J0336−0143 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is WISE J0336−0143 in simple terms?

Why does WISE J0336−0143 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 J0336−0143?

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 J0336−0143.