First Potential Exomoon Discovered Around a Brown Dwarf

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Astronomers using the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile have found strong evidence of a large celestial object orbiting the brown dwarf CD-35 2722 B.
The brown dwarf itself revolves around a host star located roughly 72 light-years away from Earth.
Because this newly detected companion orbits a body that revolves around a star, scientists describe it as an exosatellite and a candidate exomoon.
This discovery represents the first plausible detection of an exosatellite, though confirmation is necessary before officially classifying it as an exomoon.

Researchers detected this body using the radial velocity method, which tracks subtle gravitational movements.
This technique measures the slight wobble of a host body caused by the gravitational pull of an orbiting companion.
By studying the size and period of this wobble, scientists can estimate the orbiting body's mass and orbital path.

The exosatellite is a giant gaseous body with an estimated minimum mass of about 90% of Jupiter's mass, putting it in the planetary-mass range.
It follows an eccentric orbit around CD-35 2722 B and completes one full revolution in roughly 170 days.

An exomoon is generally understood to be a natural satellite that orbits a planet or another body outside our solar system.
Currently, no universally accepted formal definition exists for an exomoon within the scientific community.

Brown dwarfs are intermediate celestial objects with masses falling between giant planets and small stars.
They form like stars but lack sufficient mass to trigger sustained hydrogen fusion in their core, which is why scientists call them failed stars.
Typical brown dwarfs have masses ranging from 13 to 80 times that of Jupiter, while CD-35 2722 B is estimated at 30 to 33 times Jupiter's mass.

The European Southern Observatory's upcoming Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) will offer significantly higher sensitivity and light collection capability.
This advanced telescope will allow astronomers to discover smaller exomoons and study similar planetary systems in greater detail.