NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011B-0261
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011B-0261 |
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PI: Gaspard Duchene, UC Berkeley (Astronomy), gduchene@berkeley.edu
Address: Department of Astronomy, 601 Campbell Hall #3411, Berkeley, CA 94720-3411, USA
CoI: Catarina Alves de Oliveira, Institut de Planetologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble
CoI: Estelle Moraux, Institut de Planetologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble
CoI: Jerome Bouvier, Institut de Planetaologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble
CoI: Herve Bouy, Centro de Astrobiologa (INTA-CSIC); LAEFF
Title: Towards a complete census of brown dwarfs in IC 348
Abstract:
We propose to use GNIRS to perform a near-infrared low resolution
spectroscopic follow-up of 13 planetary mass brown dwarf candidates in IC348
(300pc, 3Myr) which have been identified from a wide-field, deep, optical and
near-infrared imaging survey with CFHT, as well as one L-type confirmed
Taurus member. This proposal is a resubmission of a previously accepted but
not executed NIRI program (due to instrument failure). Two (out of 15) of our
NIRI targets were observed during the Science Verification of GNIRS (Jan.
2011). Preliminary results place both of them among the coolest known members
of IC348 with an estimated mass of about 10 Jupiter masses, confirming the
robustness of our photometric selection criteria. With this proposal, we aim
at completing our study by observing the remaining candidates. The proposed
observations will allow us to confirm the membership of the candidates via
the study of spectral youth indicators, to derive the spectral types and
reddening, and assess the low mass nature of the confirmed sources by placing
them in an H-R diagram. The completion of this project is a fundamental step
toward achieving a complete census of the low-mass population in IC348, and
constraining the stellar, substellar and planet formation processes.
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-0261 |
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