NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2013A-0048
|
NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2013A-0048 |
|
PI: Markus Janson, Princeton University (Astrophysics), janson@astro.princeton.edu
Address: Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Peyton Hall, Princeton, NJ, 08544-1001, USA
CoI: Ray Jayawardhana, University of Toronto
CoI: David Lafreniere, University of Montreal
CoI: John Gizis, University of Delaware
CoI: Mariangela Bonavita, Univ. of Toronto
Title: Proper motion follow-up of young planet and brown dwarf candidates in Sco-Cen
Abstract:
In previous surveys of the young Sco-Cen region, we and others have
discovered a number of substellar companions with separations of up to
several hundreds of AU, some of which have mass ratios to the primary star of
only 1%. Such properties challenge both star and planet formation mechanisms.
Motivated by this issue, we started a NICI survey of a larger sample of stars
in Sco-Cen in 2011A (GS-2011Q-44). In total, 138 stars have been observed in
the survey, with 55 detected candidates having been followed up in 2012A to
test for common proper motion. We have already confirmed and published 3 new
substellar companions from this survey. We now propose to perform the final
follow-up efforts by observing 11 remaining targets. With a minor requirement
of 2.2 hours, these observations will finalize the survey, potentially yield
the widest, youngest, and lowest-mass planetary systems ever imaged directly,
and provide key insights to the formation and early evolution of planets.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
|
NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2013A-0048 |
|