A T8.5 brown dwarf member of the ξ ursae majoris system

  • Edward L. Wright
  • , M. F. Skrutskie
  • , J. Davy Kirkpatrick
  • , Christopher R. Gelino
  • , Roger L. Griffith
  • , Kenneth A. Marsh
  • , Tom Jarrett
  • , M. J. Nelson
  • , H. J. Borish
  • , Gregory MacE
  • , Amanda K. Mainzer
  • , Peter R. Eisenhardt
  • , Ian S. McLean
  • , John J. Tobin
  • , Michael C. Cushing

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer has revealed a T8.5 brown dwarf (WISE J111838.70+312537.9) that exhibits common proper motion with a solar-neighborhood (8 pc) quadruple star system - ξ Ursae Majoris. The angular separation is 8.′5, and the projected physical separation is ≈4000 AU. The sub-solar metallicity and low chromospheric activity of ξ UMa A argue that the system has an age of at least 2 Gyr. The infrared luminosity and color of the brown dwarf suggests the mass of this companion ranges between 14 and 38 MJ for system ages of 2 and 8 Gyr, respectively.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number84
JournalAstronomical Journal
Volume145
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • brown dwarfs
  • infrared: stars
  • solar neighborhood
  • stars: late-type
  • stars: low-mass

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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