NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2013B-0394
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2013B-0394 |
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PI: Mary Barsony, SETI Institute, mbarsony@seti.org
Address: Carl Sagan Center for the Study of Life in the Universe, 189 Bernardo Ave., Mt. View, CA 94043, USA
CoI: Karl E. Haisch, Jr., Utah Valley University
CoI: Kenneth A. Marsh, Cardiff University
CoI: Thomas P. Greene, NASA/ARC
Title: MOSFIRE Spectra of Newly Discoverred Young Planetary Mass Objects and Brown Dwarfs in IC 348
Abstract:
Are there more free-floating planetary mass objects than stars in
the Galaxy? To answer this question, we have perfected a novel method to
identify such objects when they are at their brightest and youngest,
resulting in the discovery of a large group of new substellar candidates
at the heart of the 3 MYr-old IC 348 cluster at 310 pc distance. In a
single night, 27 candidate and 8 coeval comparison spectra of known
members, spanning the M0-M8 spectral sequence, could be acquired with
MOSFIRE. The resulting spectra have the potential to substantially
increase the number of confirmed brown dwarfs and planetary mass objects
at the heart of this young cluster, and open the way for a robust
substellar IMF determination. In addition, these would be the highest
quality spectra of any to date, for low-mass and substellar objects at
such young ages, and would guide further development of low-gravity,
planetary-mass atmospheric models.
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 > 2013B-0394 |
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