NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2004A-0087
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2004A-0087 |
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PI: I. N. Reid, STScI, inr@stsci.edu
Address: 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21053, USA
CoI: K.L. Cruz, University of Pennsylvania
Title: Finding the nearby stars that Luyten missed
Abstract: Proper motion surveys provide one of the most effective means of finding the nearest stars. Luyten's Palomar surveys are by far the most extensive, but questions linger over their completeness. We have devised a means of using the 2MASS, USNOA and GSC2.2 catalogues to select nearby M2-M7 dwarfs with significant motions and with photometric properties consistent with distances of less than 20 parsecs. We have identified 458 non-Luyten proper motion stars from the high-latitude regions of the 2MASS 2nd release (40% of the sky). \sl If all were confirmed to be at such distances, this would effectively double the local census for mid-type M dwarfs. These are relatively bright stars (~12<R<18), and we propose to use spectroscopy on the KPNO 2.1- metre to measure spectral types and determine accurate distance estimates.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2004A-0087 |
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