NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2010B-0052
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2010B-0052 |
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PI: Charles Telesco, University of Florida, telesco@astro.ufl.edu
Address: Department of Astronomy, PO Box 112055, 211 Bryant Space Science Center, Gainesville, FL, 32611-2055, USA
CoI: Dan Li, University of Florida
CoI: Margaret Moerchen, European Southern Observatory
CoI: Chris Wright, University of New South Wales
CoI: Scott Fisher, NSF/Gemini Observatory
Title: Resolving an Asteroid Belt in a Multi-Planet System
Abstract:
We propose to use MICHELLE to image in two mid-IR passbands a dust ring
associated with a possible asteroid belt in the HR 8799 planet system where
three planets have been recently imaged (Marois et al. 2008). These images
will establish directly for the first time the properties of a key component,
so-called ring d, of this archetypal system's architecture. Thus far, the
ring morphology has only been inferred from SED fitting. To quote one
researcher, the detailed morphology of ring d "must be dynamically compatible
with the presence of the outermost and innermost planets." Our imaging
observations will establish the ring size and possibly the ring shape, the
latter providing independent information about the system orientation, which
is not currently known with certainty. In addition, our multi-wavelength
images will permit some assessment of the dust particle temperature and
thereby its size, which will support more detailed consideration of the
origin of the particles. This program is very feasibile with MICHELLE. We
request a total of 5.8 hours for this program.
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 > 2010B-0052 |
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