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arXiv · 1405.2932

Discovery of a wide planetary-mass companion to the young M3 star GU Psc

Marie-Eve Naud·Étienne Artigau·Lison Malo·Loïc Albert·René Doyon·David Lafrenière·Jonathan Gagné·Didier Saumon·Caroline V. Morley·France Allard·Derek Homeier·Charles A. Beichman·Christopher R. Gelino·Anne Boucher
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Abstract

We present the discovery of a co-moving planetary-mass companion ~42" (~2000 AU) from a young M3 star, GU Psc, likely member of the young AB Doradus Moving Group (ABDMG). The companion was first identified via its distinctively red i - z color (> 3.5) through a survey made with Gemini-S/GMOS. Follow-up Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope/WIRCam near-infrared (NIR) imaging, Gemini-N/GNIRS NIR spectroscopy and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer photometry indicate a spectral type of T3.5+-1 and reveal signs of low gravity which we attribute to youth. Keck/Adaptive Optics NIR observations did not resolve the companion as a binary. A comparison with atmosphere models indicates Teff = 1000-1100 K and logg = 4.5-5.0. Based on evolution models, this temperature corresponds to a mass of 9-13 MJup for the age of ABDMG (70-130 Myr). The relatively well-constrained age of this companion and its very large angular separation to its host star will allow its thorough characterization and will make it a valuable comparison for planetary-mass companions that will be uncovered by forthcoming planet-finder instruments such as Gemini Planet Imager and SPHERE.

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Marie-Eve Naud, Étienne Artigau, Lison Malo, Loïc Albert, René Doyon, David Lafrenière, Jonathan Gagné, Didier Saumon, Caroline V. Morley, France Allard, Derek Homeier, Charles A. Beichman, Christopher R. Gelino, Anne Boucher. 2014-05-12. Discovery of a wide planetary-mass companion to the young M3 star GU Psc. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637x/787/1/5

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