Suppose that an astronomical observatory announces the discovery of an object with about 50 times the mass of Jupiter. Since this mass is not enough for the object to be a star, what name would the observatory apply to the object?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Objects with masses too low to sustain hydrogen fusion but larger than the largest gas giants are classified as brown dwarfs. With about 50 times the mass of Jupiter, the object falls into this category, as it is below the threshold mass required for sustained hydrogen fusion, which is a characteristic of stars, but above the typical mass of planets.

Suppose That an Astronomical Observatory Announces the Discovery of an Object