Abstract
We report the discovery of five T Tauri star systems, two of which are resolved binaries, in the vicinity of the nearest known region of recent star formation: the TW Hydrae Association. The newly discovered systems display the same signatures of youth (namely high X-ray flux, large Li abundance, and strong chromospheric activity) and the same proper motion as the original five members. These similarities firmly establish the group as a bona fide T Tauri association, unique in its proximity to Earth and its complete isolation from any known molecular clouds. At an age of ∼10 Myr and a distance of ∼50 pc, the association members are excellent candidates for future studies of circumstellar disk dissipation and the formation of brown dwarfs and planets. Indeed, as an example, our speckle imaging revealed a faint, very likely companion 2″ north of CD -33° 7795 (TWA 5). Its color and brightness suggest a spectral type of ∼M8.5 which, at an age of ∼107 yr, implies a mass ∼20MJup.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Astrophysical Journal |
| Volume | 512 |
| Issue number | 1 PART 2 |
| State | Published - Feb 10 1999 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Open clusters and associations: Individual (TW Hydrae)
- Stars: Low-mass, brown dwarfs
- Stars: Pre-main-sequence
- X-rays: Stars
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Space and Planetary Science
Cite this
Discovery of seven T Tauri stars and a brown dwarf candidate in the nearby TW Hydrae Association. / Webb, R. A.; Zuckerman, B.; Platais, I.; Patience, Jennifer; White, R. J.; Schwartz, M. J.; McCarthy, C.
In: Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 512, No. 1 PART 2, 10.02.1999.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Discovery of seven T Tauri stars and a brown dwarf candidate in the nearby TW Hydrae Association
AU - Webb, R. A.
AU - Zuckerman, B.
AU - Platais, I.
AU - Patience, Jennifer
AU - White, R. J.
AU - Schwartz, M. J.
AU - McCarthy, C.
PY - 1999/2/10
Y1 - 1999/2/10
N2 - We report the discovery of five T Tauri star systems, two of which are resolved binaries, in the vicinity of the nearest known region of recent star formation: the TW Hydrae Association. The newly discovered systems display the same signatures of youth (namely high X-ray flux, large Li abundance, and strong chromospheric activity) and the same proper motion as the original five members. These similarities firmly establish the group as a bona fide T Tauri association, unique in its proximity to Earth and its complete isolation from any known molecular clouds. At an age of ∼10 Myr and a distance of ∼50 pc, the association members are excellent candidates for future studies of circumstellar disk dissipation and the formation of brown dwarfs and planets. Indeed, as an example, our speckle imaging revealed a faint, very likely companion 2″ north of CD -33° 7795 (TWA 5). Its color and brightness suggest a spectral type of ∼M8.5 which, at an age of ∼107 yr, implies a mass ∼20MJup.
AB - We report the discovery of five T Tauri star systems, two of which are resolved binaries, in the vicinity of the nearest known region of recent star formation: the TW Hydrae Association. The newly discovered systems display the same signatures of youth (namely high X-ray flux, large Li abundance, and strong chromospheric activity) and the same proper motion as the original five members. These similarities firmly establish the group as a bona fide T Tauri association, unique in its proximity to Earth and its complete isolation from any known molecular clouds. At an age of ∼10 Myr and a distance of ∼50 pc, the association members are excellent candidates for future studies of circumstellar disk dissipation and the formation of brown dwarfs and planets. Indeed, as an example, our speckle imaging revealed a faint, very likely companion 2″ north of CD -33° 7795 (TWA 5). Its color and brightness suggest a spectral type of ∼M8.5 which, at an age of ∼107 yr, implies a mass ∼20MJup.
KW - Open clusters and associations: Individual (TW Hydrae)
KW - Stars: Low-mass, brown dwarfs
KW - Stars: Pre-main-sequence
KW - X-rays: Stars
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0033540503&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0033540503&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
VL - 512
JO - Astrophysical Journal
JF - Astrophysical Journal
SN - 0004-637X
IS - 1 PART 2
ER -