Stormy Skies
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January 11, 2012 A giant, dark storm whirls through the upper atmosphere of a brown dwarf in this artist's concept. The brown dwarf, known as 2MASS 2139, is a "failed star" -- an object that is bigger than a planet, but not massive enough to shine as a star. Recent observations showed large changes in its brightness, suggesting that storms spin through its upper atmosphere, blocking some of its light. [Jon Lomberg]
