The spitzer c2d survey of nearby dense cores. II. Discovery of a low-luminosity object in the "evolved starless core" L1521F

Tyler L. Bourke, Philip C. Myers, Neal J. Evans, Michael M. Dunham, Jens Kauffmann, Yancy L. Shirley, Antonio Crapsi, Chadwick H. Young, Tracy L. Huard, Timothy Y. Brooke, Nicholas Chapman, Lucas Cieza, Chang Won Lee, Peter Teuben, Zahed Wahhaj

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

125 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present Spitzer Space Telescope observations of the "evolved starless coreπ L1521F that reveal the presence of a very low luminosity object (L < 0.07 L). The object, L1521F-IRS, is directly detected at mid-infrared wavelengths (>5 μm), but only in scattered light at shorter infrared wavelengths, showing a bipolar nebula oriented east-west that is probably tracing an outflow cavity. The nebula strongly suggests that L1521F-IRS is embedded in the L152IF core. Thus, L1521F-IRS is similar to the recently discovered L1014-IRS and the previously known IRAM 04191 in its substellar luminosity and dense core environment. However, these objects differ significantly in their core density, core chemistry, and outflow properties, and some may be destined to be brown dwarfs rather than stars.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)L37-L40
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume649
Issue number1 II
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 20 2006

Keywords

  • ISM: individual (L1521F, L1521F-IRS)
  • Stars: formation
  • Stars: low-mass, brown dwarfs

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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