Posted: Fri, Oct 26, 2001, 9:48 AM ET (1348 GMT)
Astronomers have discovered 30 brown dwarfs in a star forming region 540 light-years from Earth, ESA announced Thursday. The brown dwarfs, stars too small to sustain nuclear fusion in the cores, were found by the Infrared Space Observatory during observations of the Rho Ophiuchi region in the mid-1990s. The discovery is considered a major achievement since so few brown dwarfs have been discovered to date... Sven Grahn, Vice President of Engineering and Corporate Communications of the Swedish Space Corporation, has been awarded a gold medal from the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences. The award was bestowed on Grahn for engineering achievements he made that have advanced Sweden's space efforts.

Related Links:

•  ESA press release about brown dwarfs
•  Swedish Space Corporation