Eksokuu, a moon that orbits planets or other celestial bodies beyond our solar system, has yet to be discovered. While moons are common in our own system, the James Webb Space Telescope recently indirectly discovered an exomoon orbiting a brown dwarf – a failed star larger than Jupiter. The discovery was made by studying the infrared methane emissions from the body of W1935, a brown dwarf located 47 light years from Earth.
The heat radiation produced by these emissions indicates that an energy source is nearby, possibly a moon or multiple exomoons. Brown dwarfs like W1935 do not produce enough heat on their own for methane to emit infrared light, suggesting the presence of a moon. The methane emissions and temperature inversion in W1935’s atmosphere are similar to those seen on gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn in our solar system. These phenomena are caused by interactions with nearby moons that release material into space, generating colorful light radiation near the poles of the planets.
Researchers are still gathering evidence to confirm the existence of the exomoon orbiting W1935. The discovery marks a significant milestone in exoplanet research and will provide more insights into these distant celestial bodies and their unique characteristics. Further observations and study are needed to better understand these mysterious worlds beyond our own solar system.
