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Old July 30th 15, 07:54 AM posted to sci.misc,uk.sci.astronomy
Martin Brown
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Default Brown dwarf, dazzling aurora

On 29/07/2015 20:20, Hils wrote:
"The sky above a failed star in a distant constellation shimmers with a
beautiful green and yellow aurora one million times brighter than the
northern lights. The spectacular light show is the first confirmed
aurora on a body outside the solar system, and the most powerful ever
recorded."

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2...orthern-lights

But this otherwise fine article doesn't describe how the auroras are formed!


Somewhat like on Earth the magnetic axis of the brown dwarf and its spin
axis are not precisely aligned so that the auroral circle around the
magnetic pole is rotating in and out of our view.

The 18th magnitude object has its own Wiki entry

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LSR_J1835%2B3259

(beyond the reach of all but the largest amateur scopes)

Think of it as a low budget and much less energetic pulsar or a Jupiter
on steroids and you will not be too far out. Where the electrons come
from that power the aurora is still unknown but stellar motion and/or
orbiting planets would be the most obvious candidates.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown