Bibcode
Zapatero Osorio, M. R.; Béjar, V. J. S.; Bihain, G.; Martín, E. L.; Rebolo, R.; Villó-Pérez, I.; Díaz-Sánchez, A.; Pérez Garrido, A.; Caballero, J. A.; Henning, T.; Mundt, R.; Barrado Y Navascués, D.; Bailer-Jones, C. A. L.
Bibliographical reference
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 477, Issue 3, January III 2008, pp.895-900
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1
2008
Journal
Citations
35
Refereed citations
31
Description
Aims:The nature of S Ori 70 (S Ori J053810.1-023626), a faint mid-T type
object found towards the direction of the young σ Orionis cluster,
is still under debate. We intend to find out whether it is a field brown
dwarf or a 3-Myr old planetary-mass member of the cluster. Methods: We report on near-infrared {JHK}s and mid-infrared
[3.6] and [4.5] IRAC/Spitzer photometry recently obtained for S Ori 70.
The new near-infrared images (taken 3.82 yr after the discovery data)
allowed us to derive the first proper motion measurement for this
object. Results: The colors (H-K_s), (J-K_s) and Ks -
[3.6] appear discrepant when compared to T4-T7 dwarfs in the field. This
behavior could be ascribed either to a low-gravity atmosphere or to an
atmosphere with a metallicity that is significantly different than
solar. The small proper motion of S Ori 70 (11.0 ± 5.9 mas
yr-1) indicates that this object is farther away than
expected if it were a single field T dwarf lying in the foreground of
the σ Orionis cluster. Our measurement is consistent with the
proper motion of the cluster within 1.5σ the astrometric
uncertainty. Conclusions: Taking into account both S Ori 70's
proper motion and the new near- and mid-infrared colors, a low-gravity
atmosphere remains as the most likely explanation for our observations.
This supports S Ori 70's membership in σ Orionis, with an
estimated mass in the interval 2-7 M_Jup, in agreement with our previous
derivation.
Related projects
Very Low Mass Stars, Brown Dwarfs and Planets
Our goal is to study the processes that lead to the formation of low mass stars, brown dwarfs and planets and to characterize the physical properties of these objects in various evolutionary stages. Low mass stars and brown dwarfs are likely the most numerous type of objects in our Galaxy but due to their low intrinsic luminosity they are not so
Rafael
Rebolo López