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Keck adaptive optics observations of TW Hydrae Association members by Macintosh, Bruce; Max, Claire; Zuckerman, Ben; Becklin, Eric E.; Kaisler, Denise; Lowrance, Patrick; Weinberger, Alycia; Christou, Julian; Schneider, Glenn; Acton, Scott is a scholarly article available to read on EtoBox.

What is Keck adaptive optics observations of TW Hydrae Association members about?

Adaptive optics (AO) on 8-10 m telescopes is an enormously powerful tool for studying young nearby stars. It is especially useful for searching for companions. Using AO on the 10-m W.M. Keck II telescope we have measured the position of the brown dwarf companion to TWA5 and resolved the primary into an 0.055 arcsecond double. Over the next several years follow-up astrometry should permit an accurate determination of the masses of these young stars. We have also re-observed the candidate extrasolar planet TWA6B, but measurements of its motion relative to TWA6A are inconclusive. We are carrying out a search for new planetary or brown dwarf companions to TWA stars and, if current giant planet models are correct, are currently capable of detecting a 1 Jupiter-mass companion at ~1 arcsecond and a 5 Jupiter-mass companion at ~0.5 arcsecon around a typical TWA member.

Author

Macintosh, Bruce; Max, Claire; Zuckerman, Ben; Becklin, Eric E.; Kaisler, Denise; Lowrance, Patrick; Weinberger, Alycia; Christou, Julian; Schneider, Glenn; Acton, Scott

Published

2001

Language

EN