Particle.news

Download on the App Store

JWST Study Finds Aurora-Driven Heating and Thermal Inversion on Nearby Rogue World SIMP-0136

The peer-reviewed analysis uses JWST’s rotation-resolved spectra to motivate direct tests of a magnetic origin for the heating.

Overview

  • JWST time-series measurements show the upper atmosphere is roughly 250°C hotter than lower layers, indicating a thermal inversion consistent with auroral energy deposition.
  • SIMP-0136 sits about 20–21 light-years away, is estimated near 12–15 Jupiter masses, and completes a rotation in about 2.4 hours, enabling detailed mapping of its atmosphere.
  • Spectra reveal near-global clouds made of silicate grains, with coverage that remains surprisingly constant across the surface.
  • The team tracked temperature changes smaller than 5°C and linked them to subtle chemical shifts likely associated with rotating storms or hotspots.
  • Authors favor a powerful internal magnetic-field mechanism, building on earlier radio-pulse hints, though direct UV auroral signatures and magnetic measurements are still needed.