A preliminary BVRIJHK analysis of the white dwarfs SSSPM J2231 - 7514 and SSSPM J2231 - 7515 is presented .
Although both stars were reported to have T _ { eff } < 4000 K , the analysis here indicates T _ { eff } \approx 4250 K for both SSSPM J2231 - 7514 and SSSPM J2231 - 7515 .
Given substantial scientific interest in the coolest extant degenerate stars , it is necessary to distinguish sub 4000 K objects from the bulk of cool white dwarfs .
This analysis reiterates the importance of near infrared observations in constraining the spectral energy distributions and effective temperatures of the coolest white dwarfs and briefly discusses their possible origins .