Science

A tiny shift exposes a cold brown dwarf masquerading as an early galaxy

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Briefings

A James Webb Space Telescope observation identified a faint red object named Capotauro, initially mistaken for a potential early galaxy. However, follow-up imaging three quarters of a year later revealed the object had moved, exposing it as a cold brown dwarf rather than a galaxy. This discovery highlights the importance of precise timing in astronomical observations.

Key points

• The object Capotauro was identified by the James Webb Space Telescope as a faint red source.
• Follow-up imaging three quarters of a year later confirmed the object had moved, ruling out its initial classification as a galaxy.

Context

Astronomers initially used the James Webb Space Telescope to search for the universe's first galaxies. However, subsequent observations revealed that the object Capotauro is a cold brown dwarf, not a galaxy, due to its movement.

Limitations

The evidence is limited to a single object identified by the James Webb Space Telescope. The movement of the object was confirmed by follow-up imaging three quarters of a year later, which may not represent a consistent pattern.

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