NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011B-0073
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011B-0073 |
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PI: Thayne Currie, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, thayne.m.currie@nasa.gov
Address: Exoplanets and Stellar Astrophysics Lab, Code 667, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, USA
CoI: Hannah Jang Condell, NASA-Goddard/University of Maryland
CoI: Thomas Robitaille, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
CoI: Scott Dahm, W.M. Keck Observatory
CoI: David Wilner, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
CoI: Sean Andrews, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
CoI: Marc Kuchner, NASA-Goddard
Title: NIRI Imaging of Transitional Protoplanetary Disks with Submm-Resolved Inner Holes/Gaps
Abstract:
Disks around young stars with inner holes/gaps (transitional disks)
provide a crucial probe of active planet formation and/or the last
phases of planet formation. We propose high-contrast Gemini/NIRI
imaging of disks around four stars with inner holes/gaps: LkCa 15, MWC
758, LkHa 330, and UX Tau A. In all cases, the disks have been
spatially resolved in the submm, have inner holes/gaps large enough to
be resolved by NIRI, and show structural features indicative of
sculpting by unseen planets. Our study will provide sensitive
constraints on the presence of planet-mass objects and provide a
detailed probe of the structure of disks in the process of spawning
planetary systems.
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 > 2011B-0073 |
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