Unveiling Gliese 229B
The celestial object known as , first identified 30 years ago as a single brown dwarf, has been confirmed as a duo orbiting each other, resolving longstanding discrepancies in its observed dimness and mass.
Gliese 229Ba and Gliese 229Bb, the discovered twins, orbit a small star about 18 light-years away, with their close orbit challenging previous understandings of brown dwarf behavior and properties.
Implications for Astronomy
This discovery suggests the presence of more binary brown dwarfs, potentially reshaping our understanding of their formation and the dynamics of similar celestial bodies.
The research, utilizing advanced telescopes in and , emphasizes the importance of precise observations in uncovering the true nature of celestial objects, which could lead to more discoveries of hidden pairs.