CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html>    <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:og="http://ogp.me/ns#" xmlns:fb="https://www.facebook.com/2008/fbml" lang="en-US">  <head> <meta charset="UTF-8" /> <title>Pointing to the Poles of Brown Dwarfs: Polar Vortex Possibilities - AAS Nova</title> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" />  <meta property="og:title" content="Pointing to the Poles of Brown Dwarfs: Polar Vortex Possibilities" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://aasnova.org/2024/11/15/pointing-to-the-poles-of-brown-dwarfs-polar-vortex-possibilities/"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Often characterized as "failed stars," brown dwarfs are cool, cloudy objects that are not fully understood. Could their poles be home to swirling winds that drive intriguing observational trends? " /> <meta property="og:type" content="blog" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/browndwarf-scaled.jpg" />  <link rel="pingback" href="https://aasnova.org/xmlrpc.php" /> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/AAS-logo-transparent.ico" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" href="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/favicon.png" /> <meta name='robots' content='index, follow, max-image-preview:large, max-snippet:-1, max-video-preview:-1' /> <script type="text/javascript" id="wpp-js" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/plugins/wordpress-popular-posts/assets/js/wpp.min.js?ver=7.1.0" data-sampling="0" data-sampling-rate="100" data-api-url="https://aasnova.org/wp-json/wordpress-popular-posts" data-post-id="13005" data-token="ca08c0ed42" data-lang="0" data-debug="0"></script>  <meta name="description" content="Often characterized as "failed stars," brown dwarfs are cool, cloudy objects that are not fully understood. Could their poles be home to swirling winds that drive intriguing observational trends?" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://aasnova.org/2024/11/15/pointing-to-the-poles-of-brown-dwarfs-polar-vortex-possibilities/" /> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Pointing to the Poles of Brown Dwarfs: Polar Vortex Possibilities - AAS Nova" /> <meta property="og:description" content="Often characterized as "failed stars," brown dwarfs are cool, cloudy objects that are not fully understood. Could their poles be home to swirling winds that drive intriguing observational trends?" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://aasnova.org/2024/11/15/pointing-to-the-poles-of-brown-dwarfs-polar-vortex-possibilities/" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="AAS Nova" /> <meta property="article:publisher" content="https://www.facebook.com/aasnova" /> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2024-11-15T17:00:27+00:00" /> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2024-11-15T16:32:26+00:00" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/browndwarf-scaled.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:width" content="2560" /> <meta property="og:image:height" content="1440" /> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg" /> <meta name="author" content="Lexi Gault" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@AASNova" /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@AASNova" /> <meta name="twitter:label1" content="Written by" /> <meta name="twitter:data1" content="Lexi Gault" /> <meta name="twitter:label2" content="Est. reading time" /> <meta name="twitter:data2" content="4 minutes" /> <script type="application/ld+json" class="yoast-schema-graph">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https://aasnova.org/2024/11/15/pointing-to-the-poles-of-brown-dwarfs-polar-vortex-possibilities/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://aasnova.org/2024/11/15/pointing-to-the-poles-of-brown-dwarfs-polar-vortex-possibilities/"},"author":{"name":"Lexi Gault","@id":"https://aasnova.org/#/schema/person/1ba7dbc2efaaf7e1191b7f649b7615b1"},"headline":"Pointing to the Poles of Brown Dwarfs: Polar Vortex Possibilities","datePublished":"2024-11-15T17:00:27+00:00","dateModified":"2024-11-15T16:32:26+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https://aasnova.org/2024/11/15/pointing-to-the-poles-of-brown-dwarfs-polar-vortex-possibilities/"},"wordCount":722,"publisher":{"@id":"https://aasnova.org/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https://aasnova.org/2024/11/15/pointing-to-the-poles-of-brown-dwarfs-polar-vortex-possibilities/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/browndwarf-scaled.jpg","keywords":["atmospheres","brown dwarfs","gas giant planets"],"articleSection":["Features","Highlights"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://aasnova.org/2024/11/15/pointing-to-the-poles-of-brown-dwarfs-polar-vortex-possibilities/","url":"https://aasnova.org/2024/11/15/pointing-to-the-poles-of-brown-dwarfs-polar-vortex-possibilities/","name":"Pointing to the Poles of Brown Dwarfs: Polar Vortex Possibilities - AAS Nova","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://aasnova.org/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://aasnova.org/2024/11/15/pointing-to-the-poles-of-brown-dwarfs-polar-vortex-possibilities/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https://aasnova.org/2024/11/15/pointing-to-the-poles-of-brown-dwarfs-polar-vortex-possibilities/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/browndwarf-scaled.jpg","datePublished":"2024-11-15T17:00:27+00:00","dateModified":"2024-11-15T16:32:26+00:00","description":"Often characterized as \"failed stars,\" brown dwarfs are cool, cloudy objects that are not fully understood. Could their poles be home to swirling winds that drive intriguing observational trends?","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://aasnova.org/2024/11/15/pointing-to-the-poles-of-brown-dwarfs-polar-vortex-possibilities/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://aasnova.org/2024/11/15/pointing-to-the-poles-of-brown-dwarfs-polar-vortex-possibilities/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https://aasnova.org/2024/11/15/pointing-to-the-poles-of-brown-dwarfs-polar-vortex-possibilities/#primaryimage","url":"https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/browndwarf-scaled.jpg","contentUrl":"https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/browndwarf-scaled.jpg","width":2560,"height":1440,"caption":"Artist's concept of a brown dwarf. [NASA/JPL-Caltech]"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://aasnova.org/2024/11/15/pointing-to-the-poles-of-brown-dwarfs-polar-vortex-possibilities/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://aasnova.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Pointing to the Poles of Brown Dwarfs: Polar Vortex Possibilities"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://aasnova.org/#website","url":"https://aasnova.org/","name":"AAS Nova","description":"Research highlights from the journals of the American Astronomical Society","publisher":{"@id":"https://aasnova.org/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://aasnova.org/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://aasnova.org/#organization","name":"AAS Nova","url":"https://aasnova.org/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https://aasnova.org/#/schema/logo/image/","url":"https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/AAS-NOVA-logo-3-RGB.jpg","contentUrl":"https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/AAS-NOVA-logo-3-RGB.jpg","width":630,"height":180,"caption":"AAS Nova"},"image":{"@id":"https://aasnova.org/#/schema/logo/image/"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/aasnova","https://x.com/AASNova"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://aasnova.org/#/schema/person/1ba7dbc2efaaf7e1191b7f649b7615b1","name":"Lexi Gault","url":"https://aasnova.org/author/lexi/"}]}</script>  <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//widgetlogic.org' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//fonts.googleapis.com' /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="AAS Nova » Feed" href="https://aasnova.org/feed/" /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="AAS Nova » Comments Feed" href="https://aasnova.org/comments/feed/" /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="AAS Nova » Pointing to the Poles of Brown Dwarfs: Polar Vortex Possibilities Comments Feed" href="https://aasnova.org/2024/11/15/pointing-to-the-poles-of-brown-dwarfs-polar-vortex-possibilities/feed/" />  <script src="//www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-RXKB39JGKX" data-cfasync="false" data-wpfc-render="false" type="text/javascript" async></script> <script data-cfasync="false" data-wpfc-render="false" type="text/javascript"> var mi_version = '9.2.0'; var mi_track_user = true; var mi_no_track_reason = ''; var MonsterInsightsDefaultLocations = {"page_location":"https:\/\/aasnova.org\/2024\/11\/15\/pointing-to-the-poles-of-brown-dwarfs-polar-vortex-possibilities\/"}; if ( typeof MonsterInsightsPrivacyGuardFilter === 'function' ) { var MonsterInsightsLocations = (typeof MonsterInsightsExcludeQuery === 'object') ? MonsterInsightsPrivacyGuardFilter( MonsterInsightsExcludeQuery ) : MonsterInsightsPrivacyGuardFilter( MonsterInsightsDefaultLocations ); } else { var MonsterInsightsLocations = (typeof MonsterInsightsExcludeQuery === 'object') ? MonsterInsightsExcludeQuery : MonsterInsightsDefaultLocations; } var disableStrs = [ 'ga-disable-G-RXKB39JGKX', ]; /* Function to detect opted out users */ function __gtagTrackerIsOptedOut() { for (var index = 0; index < disableStrs.length; index++) { if (document.cookie.indexOf(disableStrs[index] + '=true') > -1) { return true; } } return false; } /* Disable tracking if the opt-out cookie exists. */ if (__gtagTrackerIsOptedOut()) { for (var index = 0; index < disableStrs.length; index++) { window[disableStrs[index]] = true; } } /* Opt-out function */ function __gtagTrackerOptout() { for (var index = 0; index < disableStrs.length; index++) { document.cookie = disableStrs[index] + '=true; expires=Thu, 31 Dec 2099 23:59:59 UTC; path=/'; window[disableStrs[index]] = true; } } if ('undefined' === typeof gaOptout) { function gaOptout() { __gtagTrackerOptout(); } } window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; window.MonsterInsightsDualTracker = { helpers: {}, trackers: {}, }; if (mi_track_user) { function __gtagDataLayer() { dataLayer.push(arguments); } function __gtagTracker(type, name, parameters) { if (!parameters) { parameters = {}; } if (parameters.send_to) { __gtagDataLayer.apply(null, arguments); return; } if (type === 'event') { parameters.send_to = monsterinsights_frontend.v4_id; var hookName = name; if (typeof parameters['event_category'] !== 'undefined') { hookName = parameters['event_category'] + ':' + name; } if (typeof MonsterInsightsDualTracker.trackers[hookName] !== 'undefined') { MonsterInsightsDualTracker.trackers[hookName](parameters); } else { __gtagDataLayer('event', name, parameters); } } else { __gtagDataLayer.apply(null, arguments); } } __gtagTracker('js', new Date()); __gtagTracker('set', { 'developer_id.dZGIzZG': true, }); if ( MonsterInsightsLocations.page_location ) { __gtagTracker('set', MonsterInsightsLocations); } __gtagTracker('config', 'G-RXKB39JGKX', {"forceSSL":"true"} ); window.gtag = __gtagTracker; (function () { /* https://developers.google.com/analytics/devguides/collection/analyticsjs/ */ /* ga and __gaTracker compatibility shim. */ var noopfn = function () { return null; }; var newtracker = function () { return new Tracker(); }; var Tracker = function () { return null; }; var p = Tracker.prototype; p.get = noopfn; p.set = noopfn; p.send = function () { var args = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments); args.unshift('send'); __gaTracker.apply(null, args); }; var __gaTracker = function () { var len = arguments.length; if (len === 0) { return; } var f = arguments[len - 1]; if (typeof f !== 'object' || f === null || typeof f.hitCallback !== 'function') { if ('send' === arguments[0]) { var hitConverted, hitObject = false, action; if ('event' === arguments[1]) { if ('undefined' !== typeof arguments[3]) { hitObject = { 'eventAction': arguments[3], 'eventCategory': arguments[2], 'eventLabel': arguments[4], 'value': arguments[5] ? arguments[5] : 1, } } } if ('pageview' === arguments[1]) { if ('undefined' !== typeof arguments[2]) { hitObject = { 'eventAction': 'page_view', 'page_path': arguments[2], } } } if (typeof arguments[2] === 'object') { hitObject = arguments[2]; } if (typeof arguments[5] === 'object') { Object.assign(hitObject, arguments[5]); } if ('undefined' !== typeof arguments[1].hitType) { hitObject = arguments[1]; if ('pageview' === hitObject.hitType) { hitObject.eventAction = 'page_view'; } } if (hitObject) { action = 'timing' === arguments[1].hitType ? 'timing_complete' : hitObject.eventAction; hitConverted = mapArgs(hitObject); __gtagTracker('event', action, hitConverted); } } return; } function mapArgs(args) { var arg, hit = {}; var gaMap = { 'eventCategory': 'event_category', 'eventAction': 'event_action', 'eventLabel': 'event_label', 'eventValue': 'event_value', 'nonInteraction': 'non_interaction', 'timingCategory': 'event_category', 'timingVar': 'name', 'timingValue': 'value', 'timingLabel': 'event_label', 'page': 'page_path', 'location': 'page_location', 'title': 'page_title', 'referrer' : 'page_referrer', }; for (arg in args) { if (!(!args.hasOwnProperty(arg) || !gaMap.hasOwnProperty(arg))) { hit[gaMap[arg]] = args[arg]; } else { hit[arg] = args[arg]; } } return hit; } try { f.hitCallback(); } catch (ex) { } }; __gaTracker.create = newtracker; __gaTracker.getByName = newtracker; __gaTracker.getAll = function () { return []; }; __gaTracker.remove = noopfn; __gaTracker.loaded = true; window['__gaTracker'] = __gaTracker; })(); } else { console.log(""); (function () { function __gtagTracker() { return null; } window['__gtagTracker'] = __gtagTracker; window['gtag'] = __gtagTracker; })(); } </script>  <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ window._wpemojiSettings = {"baseUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/72x72\/","ext":".png","svgUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/svg\/","svgExt":".svg","source":{"concatemoji":"https:\/\/aasnova.org\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-emoji-release.min.js?ver=6.6.2"}}; /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(i,n){var o,s,e;function c(e){try{var t={supportTests:e,timestamp:(new Date).valueOf()};sessionStorage.setItem(o,JSON.stringify(t))}catch(e){}}function p(e,t,n){e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(t,0,0);var t=new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data),r=(e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(n,0,0),new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data));return t.every(function(e,t){return e===r[t]})}function u(e,t,n){switch(t){case"flag":return n(e,"\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f","\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200b\u26a7\ufe0f")?!1:!n(e,"\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf3","\ud83c\uddfa\u200b\ud83c\uddf3")&&!n(e,"\ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc65\udb40\udc6e\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc7f","\ud83c\udff4\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc62\u200b\udb40\udc65\u200b\udb40\udc6e\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc7f");case"emoji":return!n(e,"\ud83d\udc26\u200d\u2b1b","\ud83d\udc26\u200b\u2b1b")}return!1}function f(e,t,n){var r="undefined"!=typeof WorkerGlobalScope&&self instanceof WorkerGlobalScope?new OffscreenCanvas(300,150):i.createElement("canvas"),a=r.getContext("2d",{willReadFrequently:!0}),o=(a.textBaseline="top",a.font="600 32px Arial",{});return e.forEach(function(e){o[e]=t(a,e,n)}),o}function t(e){var t=i.createElement("script");t.src=e,t.defer=!0,i.head.appendChild(t)}"undefined"!=typeof Promise&&(o="wpEmojiSettingsSupports",s=["flag","emoji"],n.supports={everything:!0,everythingExceptFlag:!0},e=new Promise(function(e){i.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",e,{once:!0})}),new Promise(function(t){var n=function(){try{var e=JSON.parse(sessionStorage.getItem(o));if("object"==typeof e&&"number"==typeof e.timestamp&&(new Date).valueOf()<e.timestamp+604800&&"object"==typeof e.supportTests)return e.supportTests}catch(e){}return null}();if(!n){if("undefined"!=typeof Worker&&"undefined"!=typeof OffscreenCanvas&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&URL.createObjectURL&&"undefined"!=typeof Blob)try{var e="postMessage("+f.toString()+"("+[JSON.stringify(s),u.toString(),p.toString()].join(",")+"));",r=new Blob([e],{type:"text/javascript"}),a=new Worker(URL.createObjectURL(r),{name:"wpTestEmojiSupports"});return void(a.onmessage=function(e){c(n=e.data),a.terminate(),t(n)})}catch(e){}c(n=f(s,u,p))}t(n)}).then(function(e){for(var t in e)n.supports[t]=e[t],n.supports.everything=n.supports.everything&&n.supports[t],"flag"!==t&&(n.supports.everythingExceptFlag=n.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&n.supports[t]);n.supports.everythingExceptFlag=n.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&!n.supports.flag,n.DOMReady=!1,n.readyCallback=function(){n.DOMReady=!0}}).then(function(){return e}).then(function(){var e;n.supports.everything||(n.readyCallback(),(e=n.source||{}).concatemoji?t(e.concatemoji):e.wpemoji&&e.twemoji&&(t(e.twemoji),t(e.wpemoji)))}))}((window,document),window._wpemojiSettings); /* ]]> */ </script> <link rel='stylesheet' id='validate-engine-css-css' href='https://aasnova.org/wp-content/plugins/wysija-newsletters/css/validationEngine.jquery.css?ver=2.21' type='text/css' media='all' /> <style id='wp-emoji-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> img.wp-smiley, img.emoji { display: inline !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; height: 1em !important; width: 1em !important; margin: 0 0.07em !important; vertical-align: -0.1em !important; background: none !important; padding: 0 !important; } </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='hashabr-block-style-css' href='https://aasnova.org/wp-content/plugins/hashbar-wp-notification-bar/assets/css/block-style-index.css?ver=1.5.4' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='block-widget-css' href='https://aasnova.org/wp-content/plugins/widget-logic/block_widget/css/widget.css?ver=1727262151' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='hashbar-frontend-css' href='https://aasnova.org/wp-content/plugins/hashbar-wp-notification-bar/assets/css/frontend.css?ver=1.5.4' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='responsive-lightbox-prettyphoto-css' href='https://aasnova.org/wp-content/plugins/responsive-lightbox/assets/prettyphoto/prettyPhoto.min.css?ver=2.4.8' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='rs-plugin-settings-css' href='https://aasnova.org/wp-content/plugins/revslider/public/assets/css/rs6.css?ver=6.2.2' type='text/css' media='all' /> <style id='rs-plugin-settings-inline-css' type='text/css'> .tp-caption a{color:#ff7302;text-shadow:none;-webkit-transition:all 0.2s ease-out;-moz-transition:all 0.2s ease-out;-o-transition:all 0.2s ease-out;-ms-transition:all 0.2s ease-out}.tp-caption a:hover{color:#ffa902} </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='rpadv-css-css' href='https://aasnova.org/wp-content/plugins/wp-visual-adverts/assets/css/style.css?ver=6.6.2' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='ye_dynamic-css' href='https://aasnova.org/wp-content/plugins/youtube-embed/css/main.min.css?ver=5.3.1' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='smartmag-fonts-css' href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Open+Sans:400,400Italic,600,700|Roboto+Slab|Merriweather:300italic&subset' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='smartmag-core-css' href='https://aasnova.org/wp-content/themes/smart-mag-child/style.css?ver=2.5.1' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='smartmag-responsive-css' href='https://aasnova.org/wp-content/themes/smart-mag/css/responsive.css?ver=2.5.1' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='smartmag-font-awesome-css' href='https://aasnova.org/wp-content/themes/smart-mag/css/fontawesome/css/font-awesome.min.css?ver=2.5.1' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='custom-css-css' href='https://aasnova.org/?bunyad_custom_css=1&ver=6.6.2' type='text/css' media='all' /> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/plugins/google-analytics-for-wordpress/assets/js/frontend-gtag.min.js?ver=9.2.0" id="monsterinsights-frontend-script-js" async="async" data-wp-strategy="async"></script> <script data-cfasync="false" data-wpfc-render="false" type="text/javascript" id='monsterinsights-frontend-script-js-extra'>/* <![CDATA[ */ var monsterinsights_frontend = {"js_events_tracking":"true","download_extensions":"doc,pdf,ppt,zip,xls,docx,pptx,xlsx","inbound_paths":"[]","home_url":"https:\/\/aasnova.org","hash_tracking":"false","v4_id":"G-RXKB39JGKX"};/* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.min.js?ver=3.7.1" id="jquery-core-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery-migrate.min.js?ver=3.4.1" id="jquery-migrate-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="hashbar-frontend-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var hashbar_localize = {"dont_show_bar_after_close":"","notification_display_time":"400","bar_keep_closed":"","cookies_expire_time":"","cookies_expire_type":""}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/plugins/hashbar-wp-notification-bar/assets/js/frontend.js?ver=1.5.4" id="hashbar-frontend-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/plugins/hashbar-wp-notification-bar/assets/js/js.cookie.min.js?ver=1.5.4" id="js-cookie-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/plugins/responsive-lightbox/assets/infinitescroll/infinite-scroll.pkgd.min.js?ver=6.6.2" id="responsive-lightbox-infinite-scroll-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/plugins/revslider/public/assets/js/rbtools.min.js?ver=6.0" id="tp-tools-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/plugins/revslider/public/assets/js/rs6.min.js?ver=6.2.2" id="revmin-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="rpadv-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var ajax_rpadv = {"base_url":"https:\/\/aasnova.org","ajax_url":"https:\/\/aasnova.org\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","ajax_nonce":"119412bab0"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/plugins/wp-visual-adverts/assets/js/main.js?ver=6.6.2" id="rpadv-js"></script> <link rel="https://api.w.org/" href="https://aasnova.org/wp-json/" /><link rel="alternate" title="JSON" type="application/json" href="https://aasnova.org/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/13005" /><link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" title="RSD" href="https://aasnova.org/xmlrpc.php?rsd" /> <link rel='shortlink' href='https://aasnova.org/?p=13005' /> <link rel="alternate" title="oEmbed (JSON)" type="application/json+oembed" href="https://aasnova.org/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Faasnova.org%2F2024%2F11%2F15%2Fpointing-to-the-poles-of-brown-dwarfs-polar-vortex-possibilities%2F" /> <link rel="alternate" title="oEmbed (XML)" type="text/xml+oembed" href="https://aasnova.org/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Faasnova.org%2F2024%2F11%2F15%2Fpointing-to-the-poles-of-brown-dwarfs-polar-vortex-possibilities%2F&format=xml" /> <style id="wpp-loading-animation-styles">@-webkit-keyframes bgslide{from{background-position-x:0}to{background-position-x:-200%}}@keyframes bgslide{from{background-position-x:0}to{background-position-x:-200%}}.wpp-widget-block-placeholder,.wpp-shortcode-placeholder{margin:0 auto;width:60px;height:3px;background:#dd3737;background:linear-gradient(90deg,#dd3737 0%,#571313 10%,#dd3737 100%);background-size:200% auto;border-radius:3px;-webkit-animation:bgslide 1s infinite linear;animation:bgslide 1s infinite linear}</style> <meta name="generator" content="Powered by Slider Revolution 6.2.2 - responsive, Mobile-Friendly Slider Plugin for WordPress with comfortable drag and drop interface." /> <link rel="icon" href="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/cropped-favicon-1-32x32.png" sizes="32x32" /> <link rel="icon" href="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/cropped-favicon-1-192x192.png" sizes="192x192" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/cropped-favicon-1-180x180.png" /> <meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/cropped-favicon-1-270x270.png" /> <script type="text/javascript">function setREVStartSize(e){ try { var pw = document.getElementById(e.c).parentNode.offsetWidth, newh; pw = pw===0 || isNaN(pw) ? window.innerWidth : pw; e.tabw = e.tabw===undefined ? 0 : parseInt(e.tabw); e.thumbw = e.thumbw===undefined ? 0 : parseInt(e.thumbw); e.tabh = e.tabh===undefined ? 0 : parseInt(e.tabh); e.thumbh = e.thumbh===undefined ? 0 : parseInt(e.thumbh); e.tabhide = e.tabhide===undefined ? 0 : parseInt(e.tabhide); e.thumbhide = e.thumbhide===undefined ? 0 : parseInt(e.thumbhide); e.mh = e.mh===undefined || e.mh=="" || e.mh==="auto" ? 0 : parseInt(e.mh,0); if(e.layout==="fullscreen" || e.l==="fullscreen") newh = Math.max(e.mh,window.innerHeight); else{ e.gw = Array.isArray(e.gw) ? e.gw : [e.gw]; for (var i in e.rl) if (e.gw[i]===undefined || e.gw[i]===0) e.gw[i] = e.gw[i-1]; e.gh = e.el===undefined || e.el==="" || (Array.isArray(e.el) && e.el.length==0)? e.gh : e.el; e.gh = Array.isArray(e.gh) ? e.gh : [e.gh]; for (var i in e.rl) if (e.gh[i]===undefined || e.gh[i]===0) e.gh[i] = e.gh[i-1]; var nl = new Array(e.rl.length), ix = 0, sl; e.tabw = e.tabhide>=pw ? 0 : e.tabw; e.thumbw = e.thumbhide>=pw ? 0 : e.thumbw; e.tabh = e.tabhide>=pw ? 0 : e.tabh; e.thumbh = e.thumbhide>=pw ? 0 : e.thumbh; for (var i in e.rl) nl[i] = e.rl[i]<window.innerWidth ? 0 : e.rl[i]; sl = nl[0]; for (var i in nl) if (sl>nl[i] && nl[i]>0) { sl = nl[i]; ix=i;} var m = pw>(e.gw[ix]+e.tabw+e.thumbw) ? 1 : (pw-(e.tabw+e.thumbw)) / (e.gw[ix]); newh = (e.type==="carousel" && e.justify==="true" ? e.gh[ix] : (e.gh[ix] * m)) + (e.tabh + e.thumbh); } if(window.rs_init_css===undefined) window.rs_init_css = document.head.appendChild(document.createElement("style")); document.getElementById(e.c).height = newh; window.rs_init_css.innerHTML += "#"+e.c+"_wrapper { height: "+newh+"px }"; } catch(e){ console.log("Failure at Presize of Slider:" + e) } };</script> <style type="text/css" id="wp-custom-css"> .pp_default div.ppt, .pp_hoverContainer, div.pp_default .pp_expand{ color: #fff; display: none !important; position: absolute; top: 10px; right: 10px; z-index: 9999; } </style>  <script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-2254461-35', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script> </head> <body class="post-template-default single single-post postid-13005 single-format-standard page-builder right-sidebar full"> <div class="main-wrap"> <div class="top-bar"> <div class="wrap"> <section class="top-bar-content cf"> <nav class="navbar navbar-default"> <div class="container"> <div class="collapse navbar-collapse" id="bs-example-navbar-collapse-1"> <div class="menu-header-top-container"><ul id="menu-header-top" class="nav navbar-nav"><li id="menu-item-3906" class="nav-left menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-3906"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://aas.org/"><i class="icon fa fa-globe"></i> AAS</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3907" class="nav-left menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-3907"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://journals.aas.org/">AAS Journals</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3908" class="nav-left menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-3908"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://baas.aas.org/">BAAS</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3909" class="nav-left menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-3909"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="http://iopscience.iop.org/bookListInfo/aas-iop-astronomy#collections">AAS-IOP eBooks</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3910" class="nav-left selected menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-home menu-item-3910"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://aasnova.org/">AAS Nova</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3911" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-3911"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://journals.aas.org/authors/aastex/"><i class="icon fa fa-cog"></i> AASTeX</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3912" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-3912"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="http://www.astroexplorer.org/">Astronomy Image Explorer</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3913" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-3913"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="http://astrothesaurus.org/">Unified Astronomy Thesaurus</a></li> <li id="menu-item-3914" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-3914"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="http://worldwidetelescope.org/webclient/">WorldWide Telescope</a></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </nav> </section> </div> </div> <div id="main-head" class="main-head"> <div class="wrap"> <header> <div class="title"> <a href="https://aasnova.org/" title="AAS Nova" rel="home"> <img src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AAS-NOVA-logo-1-RGB.svg" class="logo-image" alt="AAS Nova" /> </a> </div> <div class="right"> <form title="Search" method="get" id="searchform" action="https://aasnova.org/"> <input type="search" value="" name="s" id="s" class="search-field" aria-label="Search" /> <input type="submit" class="search-submit" value="Search" /> </form> </div> </header> <nav class="navigation cf"> <div class="mobile" data-type="classic" data-search="1"> <a href="#" class="selected"> <span class="text">Navigate</span><span class="current"></span> <i class="hamburger fa fa-bars"> </i> </a> </div> <div class="menu-main-menu-container"><ul id="menu-main-menu" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-182" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-home menu-item-182"><a href="https://aasnova.org/">HOME</a></li> <li id="menu-item-16" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category current-post-ancestor current-menu-parent current-post-parent menu-cat-1 menu-item-16"><a href="https://aasnova.org/category/highlights/">Highlights</a></li> <li id="menu-item-17" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-cat-3 menu-item-17"><a href="https://aasnova.org/category/journals-digest/">Journals Digest</a></li> </ul></div> <div class="textwidget"><ul class="social-icons cf"> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/AASNova" class="icon fa fa-twitter" title="Twitter"><span class="visuallyhidden">Twitter</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aasnova" class="icon fa fa-facebook" title="Facebook"><span class="visuallyhidden">Facebook</span></a></li> <li><a href="/?feed=rss2" class="icon fa fa-rss" title="RSS"><span class="visuallyhidden">RSS</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/aasnova.bsky.social" class="icon fa fa-bluesky" title="Bluesky"><span class="visuallyhidden">Bluesky</span></a></li> </ul></div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="main wrap cf"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-8 main-content"> <article id="post-13005" class="post-13005 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail category-features category-highlights tag-atmospheres tag-brown-dwarfs tag-gas-giant-planets title-above" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Article"> <header class="post-header cf"> <div class="heading cf"> <h1 class="post-title item fn" itemprop="name"> Pointing to the Poles of Brown Dwarfs: Polar Vortex Possibilities </h1>  </div> <div class="post-meta cf"> <span class="posted-by">By <span class="reviewer" itemprop="author"><a href="https://aasnova.org/author/lexi/" title="Posts by Lexi Gault" rel="author">Lexi Gault</a></span> </span> <span class="posted-on">on <span class="dtreviewed"> <time class="value-title" datetime="2024-11-15T12:00:27-05:00" title="2024-11-15" itemprop="datePublished">15 November 2024</time> </span> </span> <span class="subcat">Features</span> <span class="cats"> <div class="post-share"> <span class="text">Share:</span> <span class="share-links">  <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Faasnova.org%2F2024%2F11%2F15%2Fpointing-to-the-poles-of-brown-dwarfs-polar-vortex-possibilities%2F" class="fa fa-twitter" title="Tweet It"> <span class="visuallyhidden">Twitter</span></a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Faasnova.org%2F2024%2F11%2F15%2Fpointing-to-the-poles-of-brown-dwarfs-polar-vortex-possibilities%2F" class="fa fa-facebook" title="Share on Facebook"> <span class="visuallyhidden">Facebook</span></a> <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Faasnova.org%2F2024%2F11%2F15%2Fpointing-to-the-poles-of-brown-dwarfs-polar-vortex-possibilities%2F" class="fa fa-linkedin" title="Share on LinkedIn"> <span class="visuallyhidden">LinkedIn</span></a> <a href="https://plus.google.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Faasnova.org%2F2024%2F11%2F15%2Fpointing-to-the-poles-of-brown-dwarfs-polar-vortex-possibilities%2F" class="fa fa-google-plus" title="Share on Google+"> <span class="visuallyhidden">Google+</span></a> <a href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Faasnova.org%2F2024%2F11%2F15%2Fpointing-to-the-poles-of-brown-dwarfs-polar-vortex-possibilities%2F" class="fa fa-reddit" title="Share on Reddit"> <span class="visuallyhidden">Reddit</span></a> <a href="mailto:?subject=Pointing%20to%20the%20Poles%20of%20Brown%20Dwarfs%3A%20Polar%20Vortex%20Possibilities&body=https%3A%2F%2Faasnova.org%2F2024%2F11%2F15%2Fpointing-to-the-poles-of-brown-dwarfs-polar-vortex-possibilities%2F" class="fa fa-envelope-o" title="Share via Email"> <span class="visuallyhidden">Email</span></a> </span> </div> </span> </div> <div class="featured"> <a href="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/browndwarf-scaled.jpg" title="Pointing to the Poles of Brown Dwarfs: Polar Vortex Possibilities" itemprop="image"> <img width="702" height="336" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/browndwarf-702x336.jpg" class="attachment-main-slider size-main-slider wp-post-image" alt="Artist's rendition of a brown dwarf." title="Pointing to the Poles of Brown Dwarfs: Polar Vortex Possibilities" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/browndwarf-702x336.jpg 702w, https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/browndwarf-1078x516.jpg 1078w" sizes="(max-width: 702px) 100vw, 702px" /> </a> <div class="caption">Artist's concept of a brown dwarf. [<a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/pia21752-brown-dwarf-weather-artists-concept/">NASA/JPL-Caltech</a>]</div> </div> </header> <div class="post-container cf"> <div class="post-content-right"> <div class="post-content description " itemprop="articleBody"> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Somewhere between planets and stars is a cool, cloudy class of objects called brown dwarfs. A new study suggests that swirling clouds at the poles of these intriguing objects may provide clarity on their observed characteristics.</span></p> <h4><b>Trendy Brown Dwarfs</b></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Not quite big enough to spark hydrogen fusion, but not quite small enough to lump in with gas giant planets, brown dwarfs sit in a perplexing in-between space and are not yet fully understood. As space-based observations of brown dwarfs have evolved, recent studies have revealed long-term variations in the brightness of brown dwarfs as well as unexplained trends in their color and spectral characteristics depending on from which angle we happen to view them. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Previous studies have theorized that these variations are driven by changes in atmospheric properties of brown dwarfs. Changes in the rotation of clouds in a brown dwarf’s atmosphere can explain the observed short-term variability, but the observed long-term variations are not well explained by this same property. Could there be a single contributor driving both the observed short- and long-term variations in brown dwarfs? </span></p> <div id="attachment_13007" style="width: 270px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/figbrowndwarf.jpg" data-rel="lightbox-image-0" data-rl_title="Three modeled atmosphere components, which include the evolving polar vortex that changes with time, the ambient atmosphere that is stable, and the bands of active clouds that change and evolve on short timescales. The top panel shows a 30 degree inclination angle where the polar vortex is clearly visible and will impact the observed photometric and spectroscopic properties of the brown dwarf. The bottom panel shows an 80 degree inclination angle where the equatorial bands cover most of the brown dwarf's disk. Click to enlarge. [Fuda & Apai 2024]" data-rl_caption="Three modeled atmosphere components, which include the evolving polar vortex that changes with time, the ambient atmosphere that is stable, and the bands of active clouds that change and evolve on short timescales. The top panel shows a 30 degree inclination angle where the polar vortex is clearly visible and will impact the observed photometric and spectroscopic properties of the brown dwarf. The bottom panel shows an 80 degree inclination angle where the equatorial bands cover most of the brown dwarf's disk. Click to enlarge. [Fuda & Apai 2024]" title="Three modeled atmosphere components, which include the evolving polar vortex that changes with time, the ambient atmosphere that is stable, and the bands of active clouds that change and evolve on short timescales. The top panel shows a 30 degree inclination angle where the polar vortex is clearly visible and will impact the observed photometric and spectroscopic properties of the brown dwarf. The bottom panel shows an 80 degree inclination angle where the equatorial bands cover most of the brown dwarf's disk. Click to enlarge. [Fuda & Apai 2024]"><img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-13007" class="size-thumbnail wp-image-13007" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/figbrowndwarf-260x130.jpg" alt="Brown dwarf atmosphere components" width="260" height="130" srcset="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/figbrowndwarf-260x130.jpg 260w, https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/figbrowndwarf-702x351.jpg 702w, https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/figbrowndwarf-768x384.jpg 768w, https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/figbrowndwarf-600x300.jpg 600w, https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/figbrowndwarf-1536x768.jpg 1536w, https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/figbrowndwarf-2048x1024.jpg 2048w, https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/figbrowndwarf-1320x660.jpg 1320w" sizes="(max-width: 260px) 100vw, 260px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-13007" class="wp-caption-text">Three modeled atmosphere components, which include the evolving polar vortex that changes with time, the ambient atmosphere that is stable, and the bands of active clouds that change and evolve on short timescales. The top panel shows a 30 degree inclination angle where the polar vortex is clearly visible and will impact the observed photometric and spectroscopic properties of the brown dwarf. The bottom panel shows an 80 degree inclination angle where the equatorial bands cover most of the brown dwarf’s disk. Click to enlarge. [Fuda & Apai 2024]</p></div> <h4><b>Polar Vortex Potential</b></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Two astronomers at the University of Arizona, Nguyen Fuda and Dániel Apai, posit that the color– and spectral–inclination trends observed in brown dwarfs could be driven by polar vortices — an expanse of swirling air sitting atop the pole of a planet. To test this hypothesis, the authors explore three model atmospheres (no vortex, evolving vortex, and stationary vortex) and compare the simulated observations of each to understand how the presence or absence of a polar vortex may impact brown dwarf observations over time.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Depending on the viewing angle, we may see primarily equatorial cloud bands or we may see a significant portion or all of the brown dwarf’s pole. By making simulated observations across a series of inclinations, the authors find that both the evolving and stationary vortex models produce color–inclination variations that align with previous observations of brown dwarfs — polar vortices tend to have bluer infrared colors compared to the redder equatorial regions.</span></p> <div id="attachment_13006" style="width: 270px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/apjlad87e9f5_hr.jpg" data-rel="lightbox-image-1" data-rl_title="Resulting variability–inclination (top) and color–inclination (bottom) trends across various inclinations for short-term (left) and long-term (right) simulated observations of each modeled scenario. Click to enlarge. [Fuda & Apai 2024]" data-rl_caption="Resulting variability–inclination (top) and color–inclination (bottom) trends across various inclinations for short-term (left) and long-term (right) simulated observations of each modeled scenario. Click to enlarge. [Fuda & Apai 2024]" title="Resulting variability–inclination (top) and color–inclination (bottom) trends across various inclinations for short-term (left) and long-term (right) simulated observations of each modeled scenario. Click to enlarge. [Fuda & Apai 2024]"><img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-13006" class="size-thumbnail wp-image-13006" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/apjlad87e9f5_hr-260x233.jpg" alt="Brown dwarf trends with no vortex, evolving vortex, and stationary vortex." width="260" height="233" srcset="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/apjlad87e9f5_hr-260x233.jpg 260w, https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/apjlad87e9f5_hr-702x630.jpg 702w, https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/apjlad87e9f5_hr-768x689.jpg 768w, https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/apjlad87e9f5_hr-600x539.jpg 600w, https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/apjlad87e9f5_hr-1536x1379.jpg 1536w, https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/apjlad87e9f5_hr-1320x1185.jpg 1320w, https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/apjlad87e9f5_hr.jpg 1971w" sizes="(max-width: 260px) 100vw, 260px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-13006" class="wp-caption-text">Resulting variability–inclination (top) and color–inclination (bottom) trends across various inclinations for short-term (left) and long-term (right) simulated observations of each modeled scenario. Click to enlarge. [Fuda & Apai 2024]</p></div><span style="font-weight: 400;">All three scenarios, over short-term monitoring, exhibit variability–inclination trends. As more and more active equatorial bands become visible, short-term variations in brightness increase. On the other hand, over long-term monitoring, the evolving vortex scenario produces a variability-inclination trend opposite to that seen in the stationary and no vortex scenarios.</span></p> <h4><b>Solar System Similarities</b></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Brown dwarfs share similar characteristics to gas giants, like those in our own solar system. Many observations of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune reveal clear vortex-dominated poles that produce similar color and brightness variability. These planets, though smaller than brown dwarfs, show variations from pole to equator that grant validity to the idea of polar vortices being present in brown dwarf atmospheres.</span></p> <div id="attachment_13008" style="width: 270px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/jupiepole.jpeg" data-rel="lightbox-image-2" data-rl_title="Jupiter's bright blue south pole covered in vortices, swirling around like hurricanes. Click to enlarge. [NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Betsy Asher Hall/Gervasio Robles]" data-rl_caption="Jupiter's bright blue south pole covered in vortices, swirling around like hurricanes. Click to enlarge. [NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Betsy Asher Hall/Gervasio Robles]" title="Jupiter's bright blue south pole covered in vortices, swirling around like hurricanes. Click to enlarge. [NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Betsy Asher Hall/Gervasio Robles]"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-13008" class="size-thumbnail wp-image-13008" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/jupiepole-260x334.jpeg" alt="Jupiter's South Pole" width="260" height="334" srcset="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/jupiepole-260x334.jpeg 260w, https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/jupiepole-702x901.jpeg 702w, https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/jupiepole-768x986.jpeg 768w, https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/jupiepole-600x770.jpeg 600w, https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/jupiepole-1196x1536.jpeg 1196w, https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/jupiepole-1320x1695.jpeg 1320w, https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/jupiepole.jpeg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 260px) 100vw, 260px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-13008" class="wp-caption-text">Jupiter’s bright blue south pole covered in vortices, swirling around like hurricanes. [<a href="https://science.nasa.gov/image-detail/amf-6e34376b-19a3-4c7e-b17f-59ed8390dd6e/">NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Betsy Asher Hall/Gervasio Robles</a>]</p></div><span style="font-weight: 400;">What does this mean moving forward? The authors suggest that, based on their results, brown dwarf atmospheres are more complex than simpler, non-changing brown dwarf atmosphere models that have traditionally been used. As more long-term space-based observations of brown dwarfs become available, the polar vortex hypothesis can be tested further, allowing astronomers to unwind some of the mysteries of brown dwarfs. </span></p> <h4><b>Citation</b></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The Polar Vortex Hypothesis: Evolving, Spectrally Distinct Polar Regions Explain Short- and Long-term Light-curve Evolution and Color–Inclination Trends in Brown Dwarfs and Giant Exoplanets,” Nguyen Fuda and Dániel Apai 2024 </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">ApJL</span></i><b> 975</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> L32. </span><a href="http://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad87e9"><span style="font-weight: 400;">doi: 10.3847/2041-8213/ad87e9</span></a></p> <div class="tagcloud"><a href="https://aasnova.org/tag/atmospheres/" rel="tag">atmospheres</a> <a href="https://aasnova.org/tag/brown-dwarfs/" rel="tag">brown dwarfs</a> <a href="https://aasnova.org/tag/gas-giant-planets/" rel="tag">gas giant planets</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </article> <div class="comments"> <div id="comments"> <p class="nocomments"></p> </div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-4 sidebar"> <ul> <li id="bunyad-related-posts-widget-2" class="widget related-posts"> <h3 class="widgettitle">RELATED HIGHLIGHTS</h3> <ul class="posts-list"> <li> <a href="https://aasnova.org/2024/11/20/charting-the-cosmic-shoreline-which-planets-have-atmospheres-gl-486b/"><img width="110" height="96" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/jpegPIA21473-110x96.jpg" class="attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="illustration of an M-dwarf star and its planet" title="Charting the Cosmic Shoreline: Which Planets Have Atmospheres?" decoding="async" loading="lazy" /> </a> <div class="content"> <time datetime="2024-11-20T12:00:44-05:00">20 November 2024 </time> <span class="subcat">Features</span> <span class="comments"><a href="https://aasnova.org/2024/11/20/charting-the-cosmic-shoreline-which-planets-have-atmospheres-gl-486b/#respond"><i class="fa fa-comments-o"></i> 0</a></span> <a href="https://aasnova.org/2024/11/20/charting-the-cosmic-shoreline-which-planets-have-atmospheres-gl-486b/" title="Charting the Cosmic Shoreline: Which Planets Have Atmospheres?"> Charting the Cosmic Shoreline: Which Planets Have Atmospheres?</a> </div> </li> <li> <a href="https://aasnova.org/2024/11/04/featured-image-finding-swirls-on-jupiter/"><img width="110" height="96" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/psjad6e75f2_hr-110x96.jpg" class="attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="eight images of swirling clouds on Jupiter" title="Featured Image: Finding Swirls on Jupiter" decoding="async" loading="lazy" /> </a> <div class="content"> <time datetime="2024-11-04T12:00:28-05:00">4 November 2024 </time> <span class="subcat">Images</span> <span class="comments"><a href="https://aasnova.org/2024/11/04/featured-image-finding-swirls-on-jupiter/#respond"><i class="fa fa-comments-o"></i> 0</a></span> <a href="https://aasnova.org/2024/11/04/featured-image-finding-swirls-on-jupiter/" title="Featured Image: Finding Swirls on Jupiter"> Featured Image: Finding Swirls on Jupiter</a> </div> </li> <li> <a href="https://aasnova.org/2024/10/16/gliese-229-bs-newfound-companion-solves-brown-dwarf-mystery/"><img width="110" height="96" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/STScI-01EVVFZQB68WX5WXSY8NACYWB9-110x96.jpg" class="attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="brown dwarf Gliese 229 B as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope" title="Gliese 229 B’s Newfound Companion Solves Brown Dwarf Mystery" decoding="async" loading="lazy" /> </a> <div class="content"> <time datetime="2024-10-16T11:00:04-04:00">16 October 2024 </time> <span class="subcat">Features</span> <span class="comments"><a href="https://aasnova.org/2024/10/16/gliese-229-bs-newfound-companion-solves-brown-dwarf-mystery/#respond"><i class="fa fa-comments-o"></i> 0</a></span> <a href="https://aasnova.org/2024/10/16/gliese-229-bs-newfound-companion-solves-brown-dwarf-mystery/" title="Gliese 229 B’s Newfound Companion Solves Brown Dwarf Mystery"> Gliese 229 B’s Newfound Companion Solves Brown Dwarf Mystery</a> </div> </li> <li> <a href="https://aasnova.org/2024/09/10/its-an-eyeball-summer-and-other-weird-k-m-dwarf-habitable-climate-tales/"><img width="110" height="96" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/eso1241a-110x96.jpg" class="attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Artist's impression of an exoplanet orbiting its host star" title="It’s An Eyeball Summer, and Other Weird K/M-Dwarf Habitable Climate Tales" decoding="async" loading="lazy" /> </a> <div class="content"> <time datetime="2024-09-10T12:00:51-04:00">10 September 2024 </time> <span class="subcat">Astrobites</span> <span class="comments"><a href="https://aasnova.org/2024/09/10/its-an-eyeball-summer-and-other-weird-k-m-dwarf-habitable-climate-tales/#respond"><i class="fa fa-comments-o"></i> 0</a></span> <a href="https://aasnova.org/2024/09/10/its-an-eyeball-summer-and-other-weird-k-m-dwarf-habitable-climate-tales/" title="It’s An Eyeball Summer, and Other Weird K/M-Dwarf Habitable Climate Tales"> It’s An Eyeball Summer, and Other Weird K/M-Dwarf Habitable Climate Tales</a> </div> </li> <li> <a href="https://aasnova.org/2024/07/23/how-common-are-solar-systems-like-our-own/"><img width="110" height="96" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/PIA11800-110x96.jpg" class="attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="illustration of our solar system" title="How Common Are Solar Systems Like Our Own?" decoding="async" loading="lazy" /> </a> <div class="content"> <time datetime="2024-07-23T12:00:19-04:00">23 July 2024 </time> <span class="subcat">Astrobites</span> <span class="comments"><a href="https://aasnova.org/2024/07/23/how-common-are-solar-systems-like-our-own/#respond"><i class="fa fa-comments-o"></i> 0</a></span> <a href="https://aasnova.org/2024/07/23/how-common-are-solar-systems-like-our-own/" title="How Common Are Solar Systems Like Our Own?"> How Common Are Solar Systems Like Our Own?</a> </div> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="rpadv_widget-2" class="widget widget_rpadv_widget"> <script type="text/javascript"> if (typeof rpadv_settings == 'undefined') { var rpadv_settings = {advertCount:[],refreshTime:[],animationSpeed:[],advertCountPage:[],version:[],index:[]}; } rpadv_settings.advertCount["rpadv_widget-2"] = 3; rpadv_settings.refreshTime["rpadv_widget-2"] = 0; rpadv_settings.animationSpeed["rpadv_widget-2"] = 1000; rpadv_settings.advertCountPage["rpadv_widget-2"] = 3; rpadv_settings.version["rpadv_widget-2"] = "2.3.0"; rpadv_settings.index["rpadv_widget-2"] = ""; </script> <div class="main-visual-adverts" data-id="rpadv_widget-2"> <div class="visual-adverts add" style="display: none;" data-index="3"> <div class="visual-adverts-item" data-id="12890"> <a href="https://aas.org/meetings/aas245" title="Join Us at AAS 245 in National Harbor" target="_blank"> <h3 class="visual-adverts-item-title">Join Us at AAS 245 in National Harbor</h3> <div class="visual-adverts-item-image"> <img src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/AAS245_AASNovaAd-400x250.png" alt="Join Us at AAS 245 in National Harbor"> </div> <div class="visual-adverts-item-content"> Join us in National Harbor, MD, 12–16 January 2025 for exceptional science at the<span class="x_xapple-converted-space"> </span>245th meeting of the American Astronomical Society. <strong>Register today!</strong> </div> </a> </div> <div class="visual-adverts-item" data-id="11355"> <a href="https://aas.org/celebrating-125-years" title="125th Anniversary of the American Astronomical Society" target="_blank"> <h3 class="visual-adverts-item-title">125th Anniversary of the American Astronomical Society</h3> <div class="visual-adverts-item-image"> <img src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/AAS125_AAS-Nova_1_400x250.jpg" alt="125th Anniversary of the American Astronomical Society"> </div> <div class="visual-adverts-item-content"> 2024 marks the 125th anniversary of the founding of the American Astronomical Society. <strong>Join us in looking back on the past 125 years of the Society.</strong> </div> </a> </div> <div class="visual-adverts-item" data-id="12101"> <a href="https://journals.aas.org/astronomical-journal-175-anniversary" title="175th Anniversary of the Astronomical Journal" target="_blank"> <h3 class="visual-adverts-item-title">175th Anniversary of the Astronomical Journal</h3> <div class="visual-adverts-item-image"> <img src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/AJ175_AAS-Nova_400x250.jpg" alt="175th Anniversary of the Astronomical Journal"> </div> <div class="visual-adverts-item-content"> 2024 marks the 175th anniversary of the founding of the <em>Astronomical Journal</em>. <strong>Explore our interactive timeline showcasing the history (and science!) of the <em>Astronomical Journal</em>. </strong> </div> </a> </div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </aside> </div>  </div>  <footer class="main-footer"> <div class="wrap"> <ul class="widgets row cf"> <li class="widget col-4 widget_tag_cloud"><h3 class="widgettitle">HIGHLIGHT HOT TOPICS</h3><div class="tagcloud"><a href="https://aasnova.org/tag/exoplanets/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-30 tag-link-position-1" style="font-size: 22pt;" aria-label="exoplanets (283 items)">exoplanets</a> <a href="https://aasnova.org/tag/star-formation/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-28 tag-link-position-2" style="font-size: 14pt;" aria-label="star formation (146 items)">star formation</a> <a href="https://aasnova.org/tag/aas-meeting/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-191 tag-link-position-3" style="font-size: 13.7142857143pt;" aria-label="AAS meeting (143 items)">AAS meeting</a> <a href="https://aasnova.org/tag/solar-system/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-61 tag-link-position-4" style="font-size: 13.7142857143pt;" aria-label="solar system (142 items)">solar system</a> <a href="https://aasnova.org/tag/stellar-evolution/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-160 tag-link-position-5" style="font-size: 12.8571428571pt;" aria-label="stellar evolution (134 items)">stellar evolution</a> <a href="https://aasnova.org/tag/black-holes/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-79 tag-link-position-6" style="font-size: 11.4285714286pt;" aria-label="black holes (120 items)">black holes</a> <a href="https://aasnova.org/tag/magnetic-fields/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-111 tag-link-position-7" style="font-size: 11.4285714286pt;" aria-label="magnetic fields (119 items)">magnetic fields</a> <a href="https://aasnova.org/tag/planet-formation/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-124 tag-link-position-8" style="font-size: 10.5714285714pt;" aria-label="planet formation (112 items)">planet formation</a> <a href="https://aasnova.org/tag/atmospheres/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-96 tag-link-position-9" style="font-size: 10pt;" aria-label="atmospheres (107 items)">atmospheres</a> <a href="https://aasnova.org/tag/supermassive-black-holes/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-270 tag-link-position-10" style="font-size: 10pt;" aria-label="supermassive black holes (106 items)">supermassive black holes</a> <a href="https://aasnova.org/tag/interstellar-medium/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-149 tag-link-position-11" style="font-size: 9.71428571429pt;" aria-label="interstellar medium (104 items)">interstellar medium</a> <a href="https://aasnova.org/tag/active-galactic-nuclei/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-98 tag-link-position-12" style="font-size: 9.14285714286pt;" aria-label="active galactic nuclei (98 items)">active galactic nuclei</a> <a href="https://aasnova.org/tag/supernovae/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-104 tag-link-position-13" style="font-size: 8.85714285714pt;" aria-label="supernovae (96 items)">supernovae</a> <a href="https://aasnova.org/tag/milky-way/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-103 tag-link-position-14" style="font-size: 8.57142857143pt;" aria-label="Milky Way (94 items)">Milky Way</a> <a href="https://aasnova.org/tag/neutron-stars/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-206 tag-link-position-15" style="font-size: 8pt;" aria-label="neutron stars (91 items)">neutron stars</a></div> </li><li class="widget col-4 widget_text"><h3 class="widgettitle">MOST READ RECENT HIGHLIGHTS</h3> <div class="textwidget"><ol class="wpp-list"> <li class=""> <a href="https://aasnova.org/2024/08/30/the-odds-of-the-unthinkable/" class="wpp-post-title" target="_self" rel="noopener">The Odds of the Unthinkable</a> <span class="wpp-meta post-stats"></span></li> <li class=""> <a href="https://aasnova.org/2024/08/26/the-quest-to-watch-a-supernova-in-real-time/" class="wpp-post-title" target="_self" rel="noopener">The Quest to Watch a Supernova in Real Time</a> <span class="wpp-meta post-stats"></span></li> <li class=""> <a href="https://aasnova.org/2024/11/12/the-galactic-golden-child-cas-a-through-the-lens-of-jwst/" class="wpp-post-title" target="_self" rel="noopener">The Galactic Golden Child Cassiopeia A Through the Lens of JWST</a> <span class="wpp-meta post-stats"></span></li> <li class=""> <a href="https://aasnova.org/2024/10/01/johannes-kepler-and-the-case-of-the-disappearing-sunspots/" class="wpp-post-title" target="_self" rel="noopener">Johannes Kepler and the Case of the Disappearing Sunspots</a> <span class="wpp-meta post-stats"></span></li> <li class=""> <a href="https://aasnova.org/2024/11/06/discovery-of-a-lonely-galactic-hedgehog/" class="wpp-post-title" target="_self" rel="noopener">Discovery of a Lonely Galactic Hedgehog</a> <span class="wpp-meta post-stats"></span></li> </ol> </div> </li> <li class="widget col-4 widget_mailpoet_form"> <h3 class="widgettitle">Email alerts</h3> <div class=" mailpoet_form_popup_overlay "></div> <div id="mailpoet_form_2" class=" mailpoet_form mailpoet_form_widget mailpoet_form_position_ mailpoet_form_animation_ " > <style type="text/css"> #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_form { } #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_paragraph { line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 10px; } #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_segment_label, #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_text_label, #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_textarea_label, #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_select_label, #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_radio_label, #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_checkbox_label, #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_list_label, #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_date_label { display: block; } #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_text, #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_textarea, #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_select, #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_date_month, #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_date_day, #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_date_year, #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_date { display: block; } #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_text, #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_textarea { width: 200px; } #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_checkbox { margin-top: 6px; margin-right: 7px; float: left; } #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_paragraph .mailpoet_submit { float: left; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 15px; background: #505398 none repeat scroll 0 0; color: #fff; font-weight: normal; border: none; } #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_paragraph .mailpoet_submit:hover { background: #3d3f79; } #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_divider { } #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_message { } #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_validate_success { font-weight: 600; color: #468847; } #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_validate_error { color: #b94a48; } #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_form_loading { width: 30px; text-align: center; line-height: normal; } #mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_form_loading > span { width: 5px; height: 5px; background-color: #5b5b5b; }#mailpoet_form_2{;}#mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_message {margin: 0; padding: 0 20px;}#mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_paragraph.last {margin-bottom: 0} @media (max-width: 500px) {#mailpoet_form_2 {background-image: none;}} @media (min-width: 500px) {#mailpoet_form_2 .last .mailpoet_paragraph:last-child {margin-bottom: 0}} @media (max-width: 500px) {#mailpoet_form_2 .mailpoet_form_column:last-child .mailpoet_paragraph:last-child {margin-bottom: 0}} </style> <form target="_self" method="post" action="https://aasnova.org/wp-admin/admin-post.php?action=mailpoet_subscription_form" class="mailpoet_form mailpoet_form_form mailpoet_form_widget" novalidate data-delay="" data-exit-intent-enabled="" data-font-family="" data-cookie-expiration-time="" > <input type="hidden" name="data[form_id]" value="2" /> <input type="hidden" name="token" value="57c1e80c16" /> <input type="hidden" name="api_version" value="v1" /> <input type="hidden" name="endpoint" value="subscribers" /> <input type="hidden" name="mailpoet_method" value="subscribe" /> <label class="mailpoet_hp_email_label" style="display: none !important;">Please leave this field empty<input type="email" name="data[email]"/></label><div class="mailpoet_paragraph" ><p>Sign up to receive email alerts when new Highlights articles are published. Please supply your email address.</p></div> <div class="mailpoet_paragraph"><label for="form_email_2" class="mailpoet-screen-reader-text" data-automation-id="form_email_label" >Email <span class="mailpoet_required">*</span></label><input type="email" autocomplete="email" class="mailpoet_text" id="form_email_2" name="data[form_field_YWM0MWI2MjIyZjA3X2VtYWls]" title="Email" value="" data-automation-id="form_email" placeholder="Email *" data-parsley-errors-container=".mailpoet_error_1h6tn" data-parsley-required="true" data-parsley-minlength="6" data-parsley-maxlength="150" data-parsley-type-message="This value should be a valid email." data-parsley-required-message="This field is required."/><span class="mailpoet_error_1h6tn"></span></div> <div class="mailpoet_paragraph"><fieldset><legend class="mailpoet_segment_label" >Select list(s):</legend><label class="mailpoet_checkbox_label" ><input type="checkbox" class="mailpoet_checkbox" name="data[form_field_MGRhYWFkZTNlNzQyX3NlZ21lbnRz][]" value="4" data-parsley-errors-container=".mailpoet_error_1t1zu" data-parsley-required="true" data-parsley-group="segments" data-parsley-required-message="Please select a list." /> Highlights Instant Alert</label><label class="mailpoet_checkbox_label" ><input type="checkbox" class="mailpoet_checkbox" name="data[form_field_MGRhYWFkZTNlNzQyX3NlZ21lbnRz][]" value="5" data-parsley-errors-container=".mailpoet_error_1t1zu" data-parsley-required="true" data-parsley-group="segments" data-parsley-required-message="Please select a list." /> Weekly Highlights Digest</label><span class="mailpoet_error_1t1zu"></span></fieldset></div> <div class="mailpoet_paragraph"><input type="submit" class="mailpoet_submit" value="Subscribe" data-automation-id="subscribe-submit-button" style="border-color:transparent;" /><span class="mailpoet_form_loading"><span class="mailpoet_bounce1"></span><span class="mailpoet_bounce2"></span><span class="mailpoet_bounce3"></span></span></div> <div class="mailpoet_paragraph" ><p class="strapline">The AAS will never rent or sell your email address to third parties.</p></div> <div class="mailpoet_message"> <p class="mailpoet_validate_success" style="display:none;" >Check your inbox or spam folder now to confirm your subscription. </p> <p class="mailpoet_validate_error" style="display:none;" > </p> </div> </form> </div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="lower-foot"> <div class="wrap"> <div class="row cf"> <div class="column half"> <div class="about-widget"> <img src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AAS-NOVA-logo-3-white.svg" /> <div class="row cf"><div class="column half"> <p>The <a href="http://aas.org" target="_blank">American Astronomical Society</a> (AAS) is the major organization of professional astronomers in North America. The mission of the AAS is to enhance and share humanity's scientific understanding of the universe.</p> </div><div class="column half"> <p>AAS Nova highlights results published in the AAS's peer-reviewed journals. It provides a curation service to inform astronomy researchers and enthusiasts about breakthroughs and discoveries they might otherwise overlook.</p> </div></div> </div> </div> <div class="column half journal-legal"> <div class="col-8"> <h3 class="widgettitle">AAS JOURNALS</h3><div class="menu-aas-journals-menu-container"><ul id="menu-aas-journals-menu" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-20" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-20"><a href="http://iopscience.iop.org/1538-3881">The Astronomical Journal</a></li> <li id="menu-item-21" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-21"><a href="http://iopscience.iop.org/0004-637X/">The Astrophysical Journal</a></li> <li id="menu-item-5728" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-5728"><a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/journal/2632-3338">Planetary Science Journal</a></li> <li id="menu-item-22" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-22"><a href="http://iopscience.iop.org/2041-8205">The Astrophysical Journal Letters</a></li> <li id="menu-item-23" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-23"><a href="http://iopscience.iop.org/0067-0049/">The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series</a></li> </ul></div> </div> <div class="col-4"> <h3 class="widgettitle">SITE INFO</h3><div class="menu-legal-menu-container"><ul id="menu-legal-menu" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-28" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-28"><a href="https://aasnova.org/contact/">About & Contact</a></li> <li id="menu-item-31" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-31"><a href="https://aasnova.org/copyright/">Copyright & Permissions</a></li> <li id="menu-item-30" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-30"><a href="https://aasnova.org/privacy-and-cookies/">Privacy & Cookies</a></li> <li id="menu-item-29" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-29"><a href="https://aasnova.org/terms/">Terms</a></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="aas-copyright"> <div class="textwidget"><p>© 2024 American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </footer> </div>  <link rel='stylesheet' id='mailpoet_public-css' href='https://aasnova.org/wp-content/plugins/mailpoet/assets/dist/css/mailpoet-public.da88de39.css?ver=6.6.2' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='mailpoet_custom_fonts_0-css' href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Abril+FatFace%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CAlegreya%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CAlegreya+Sans%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CAmatic+SC%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CAnonymous+Pro%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CArchitects+Daughter%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CArchivo%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CArchivo+Narrow%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CAsap%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CBarlow%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CBioRhyme%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CBonbon%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CCabin%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CCairo%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CCardo%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CChivo%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CConcert+One%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CCormorant%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CCrimson+Text%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CEczar%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CExo+2%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CFira+Sans%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CFjalla+One%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CFrank+Ruhl+Libre%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CGreat+Vibes%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i&ver=6.6.2' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='mailpoet_custom_fonts_1-css' href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Heebo%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CIBM+Plex%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CInconsolata%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CIndie+Flower%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CInknut+Antiqua%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CInter%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CKarla%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CLibre+Baskerville%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CLibre+Franklin%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CMontserrat%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CNeuton%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CNotable%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CNothing+You+Could+Do%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CNoto+Sans%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CNunito%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7COld+Standard+TT%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7COxygen%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CPacifico%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CPoppins%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CProza+Libre%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CPT+Sans%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CPT+Serif%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CRakkas%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CReenie+Beanie%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CRoboto+Slab%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i&ver=6.6.2' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='mailpoet_custom_fonts_2-css' href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Ropa+Sans%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CRubik%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CShadows+Into+Light%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CSpace+Mono%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CSpectral%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CSue+Ellen+Francisco%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CTitillium+Web%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CUbuntu%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CVarela%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CVollkorn%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CWork+Sans%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CYatra+One%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i&ver=6.6.2' type='text/css' media='all' /> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-includes/js/comment-reply.min.js?ver=6.6.2" id="comment-reply-js" async="async" data-wp-strategy="async"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="hashbar-analytics-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var hashbar_analytical = {"ajaxurl":"https:\/\/aasnova.org\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","nonce_key":"5e146f4374","enable_analytics":""}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/plugins/hashbar-wp-notification-bar/assets/js/analytics.js?ver=1.5.4" id="hashbar-analytics-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/plugins/responsive-lightbox/assets/prettyphoto/jquery.prettyPhoto.min.js?ver=2.4.8" id="responsive-lightbox-prettyphoto-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-includes/js/underscore.min.js?ver=1.13.4" id="underscore-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="responsive-lightbox-js-before"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var rlArgs = {"script":"prettyphoto","selector":"lightbox","customEvents":"","activeGalleries":true,"animationSpeed":"fast","slideshow":false,"slideshowDelay":5000,"slideshowAutoplay":false,"opacity":"0.75","showTitle":true,"allowResize":true,"allowExpand":true,"width":1080,"height":720,"separator":"\/","theme":"pp_default","horizontalPadding":30,"hideFlash":false,"wmode":"opaque","videoAutoplay":false,"modal":false,"deeplinking":false,"overlayGallery":true,"keyboardShortcuts":true,"social":false,"woocommerce_gallery":false,"ajaxurl":"https:\/\/aasnova.org\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","nonce":"b1d4534999","preview":false,"postId":13005,"scriptExtension":false}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/plugins/responsive-lightbox/js/front.js?ver=2.4.8" id="responsive-lightbox-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://widgetlogic.org/v2/js/data.js?t=1732363200&ver=6.0.0" id="widget-logic_live_match_widget-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="bunyad-theme-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var Bunyad = {"ajaxurl":"https:\/\/aasnova.org\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/themes/smart-mag/js/bunyad-theme.js?ver=2.5.1" id="bunyad-theme-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/themes/smart-mag/js/jquery.flexslider-min.js?ver=2.5.1" id="flex-slider-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/themes/smart-mag/js/jquery.sticky-sidebar.min.js?ver=2.5.1" id="sticky-sidebar-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/plugins/page-links-to/dist/new-tab.js?ver=3.3.7" id="page-links-to-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="mailpoet_public-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var MailPoetForm = {"ajax_url":"https:\/\/aasnova.org\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","is_rtl":"","ajax_common_error_message":"An error has happened while performing a request, please try again later."}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://aasnova.org/wp-content/plugins/mailpoet/assets/dist/js/public.js?ver=5.3.3" id="mailpoet_public-js" defer="defer" data-wp-strategy="defer"></script> </body> </html>