Embargoed for release after 12:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time
Monday, May 31, 1999

Methane Dwarf Spectrum

This graph shows the spectrum of the first methane dwarf detected by the SDSS. The object is distinguished by the presence of very strong methane (CH₄) absorption bands. Absorption bands of water are also seen in the near infrared.

The region of the spectrum at wavelengths below 1 micron was observed with the 3.5-meter ARC telescope; the region above about a micron was observed at the UKIRT 3.8-meter telescope by Sandy Leggett and Tom Geballe. UKIRT observations by Leggett and Geballe also confirmed the nature of the second SDSS methane dwarf.
Image credit: SDSS Collaboration

This image is also available as a PostScript file (39 KB).

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