Free Astronomy Magazine January-February 2026

5 ASTRO PUBLISHING atmospheric phenomena such as clouds or storms similar to gas giants like Jupiter but on a much larger scale. “Studying the weather on these distant objects not only helps us to understand how their atmos- phere form, but also informs our larger search for life planets beyond the solar system” said Taichi Uyama, researcher with the Astrobiology Center of Japan and lead author of the study. This study, led by the Astrobiology Center at the National Institutes of Natural Sciences, California State University Northridge, and Johns Hopkins University is published in The Astronomical Journal . M dwarfs, or red dwarfs, are the most common type of star in our galaxy, accounting for more than half of all stars in the Milky Way. These small, smaller and cooler than the Sun, are key targets for under- JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2026 P anoramic view of the main astronomical installations on the summit of Maunakea, Hawaii. [Sean Goebel Photogra- phy/W. M. Keck Observatory]