NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2009A-0022
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2009A-0022 |
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PI: Kevin Luhman, Penn State University, kluhman@astro.psu.edu
Address: Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, 525 Davey Lab, University Park, PA 16803, USA
Title: Estimating the Mass of a Young Substellar Companion
Abstract: Schmidt & Neuhauser (2008) have recently discovered a faint companion to the young star CT Cha in the Chamaeleon I star-forming region ((tau)~2 Myr; d=165 pc). They have measured a spectral type of M9-L3 for the companion using a near-infrared spectrum and have estimated a mass of 1-16 M_\rm Jup, which would make it one of the least massive companions detected in direct images. I propose to use GMOS to obtain an optical spectrum of CT Cha B to accurately measure its spectral type (+/-0.5 subclass), which will enable a much better estimate its mass.
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 > 2009A-0022 |
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