arXiv subjects

Aaron Do

Publications and source records attributed to Aaron Do.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2024

Hawai'i Supernova Flows: A Peculiar Velocity Survey Using Over a Thousand Supernovae in the Near-Infrared

We introduce the Hawai'i Supernova Flows project and present summary statistics of the first 1,217 astronomical transients observed, 668 of which are spectroscopically classified Type Ia Supernovae (SNe Ia). Our project is designed to obtain systematics-limited distances to SNe Ia while consuming minimal dedicated observational resources. To date, we have performed almost 5,000 near-infrared (NIR) observations of astronomical transients and have obtained spectra for over 200 host galaxies lacking published spectroscopic redshifts. In this survey paper we describe the methodology used to select targets, collect/reduce data, calculate distances, and perform quality cuts. We compare our methods to those used in similar studies, finding general agreement or mild improvement. Our summary statistics include various parametrizations of dispersion in the Hubble diagrams produced using fits to several commonly used SN Ia models. We find the lowest dispersions using the \texttt{SNooPy} package's EBV\_model2, with a root mean square (RMS) deviation of 0.165 mag and a normalized median absolute deviation (NMAD) of 0.123 mag. The full utility of the Hawai'i Supernova Flows data set far exceeds the analyses presented in this paper. Our photometry will provide a valuable test bed for models of SN Ia incorporating NIR data. Differential cosmological studies comparing optical samples and combined optical and NIR samples will have increased leverage for constraining chromatic effects like dust extinction. We invite the community to explore our data by making the light curves, fits, and host galaxy redshifts publicly accessible.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2024

The DEHVILS in the Details: Type Ia Supernova Hubble Residual Comparisons and Mass Step Analysis in the Near-Infrared

Measurements of Type Ia Supernovae (SNe Ia) in the near-infrared (NIR) have been used both as an alternate path to cosmology compared to optical measurements and as a method of constraining key systematics for the larger optical studies. With the DEHVILS sample, the largest published NIR sample with consistent NIR coverage of maximum light across three NIR bands ($Y$, $J$, and $H$), we check three key systematics: (i) the reduction in Hubble residual scatter as compared to the optical, (ii) the measurement of a "mass step" or lack thereof and its implications, and (iii) the ability to distinguish between various dust models by analyzing slopes and correlations between Hubble residuals in the NIR and optical. We produce SN Ia simulations of the DEHVILS sample and find that it is $\textit{harder}$ to differentiate between various dust models than previously understood. Additionally, we find that fitting with the current SALT3-NIR model does not yield accurate wavelength-dependent stretch-luminosity correlations, and we propose a limited solution for this problem. From the data, we see that (i) the standard deviation of Hubble residual values from NIR bands treated as standard candles are 0.007-0.042 mag smaller than those in the optical, (ii) the NIR mass step is not constrainable with the current sample size of 47 SNe Ia from DEHVILS, and (iii) Hubble residuals in the NIR and optical are correlated in the data. We test a few variations on the number and combinations of filters and data samples, and we observe that none of our findings or conclusions are significantly impacted by these modifications.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2024

SCAT Uncovers ATLAS's First Tidal Disruption Event ATLAS18mlw: A Faint and Fast TDE in a Quiescent Balmer Strong Galaxy

We present the discovery that ATLAS18mlw was a tidal disruption event (TDE) in the galaxy WISEA J073544.83+663717.3, at a luminosity distance of 334 Mpc. Initially discovered by the Asteroid Terrestrial Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) on 2018 March 17.3, the TDE nature of the transient was uncovered only recently with the re-reduction of a SuperNova Integral Field Spectrograph (SNIFS) spectrum. This spectrum, taken by the Spectral Classification of Astronomical Transients (SCAT) survey, shows a strong blue continuum and a broad H$α$ emission line. Here we present roughly six years of optical survey photometry beginning before the TDE to constrain AGN activity, optical spectroscopy of the transient, and a detailed study of the host galaxy properties through analysis of archival photometry and a host spectrum. ATLAS18mlw was detected in ground-based light curves for roughly two months. From a blackbody fit to the transient spectrum and bolometric correction of the optical light curve, we conclude that ATLAS18mlw is best explained by a low-luminosity TDE with a peak luminosity of log(L [erg s$^{-1}$]) = $43.5 \pm 0.2$. The TDE classification is further supported by the quiescent Balmer strong nature of the host galaxy. We also calculated the TDE decline rate from the bolometric light curve and find $ΔL_{40} = -0.7 \pm 0.2$ dex, making ATLAS18mlw a member of the growing class of ``faint and fast'' TDEs with low peak luminosities and fast decline rates.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

The Curious Case of ASASSN-20hx: A Slowly-Evolving, UV and X-ray Luminous, Ambiguous Nuclear Transient

We present observations of ASASSN-20hx, a nearby ambiguous nuclear transient (ANT) discovered in NGC 6297 by the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN). We observed ASASSN-20hx from $-$30 to 275 days relative to peak UV/optical emission using high-cadence, multi-wavelength spectroscopy and photometry. From Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) data, we determine that the ANT began to brighten on 2020 June 22.8 with a linear rise in flux for at least the first week. ASASSN-20hx peaked in the UV/optical 30 days later on 2020 July 22.8 (MJD = 59052.8) at a bolometric luminosity of $L = (3.15 \pm 0.04) \times 10^{43}$ erg s$^{-1}$. The subsequent decline is slower than any TDE observed to date and consistent with many other ANTs. Compared to an archival X-ray detection, the X-ray luminosity of ASASSN-20hx increased by an order of magnitude to $L_{x} \sim 1.5 \times 10^{42}$ erg s$^{-1}$ and then slowly declined over time. The X-ray emission is well-fit by a power law with a photon index of $Γ\sim 2.3 - 2.6$. Both the optical and near infrared spectra of ASASSN-20hx lack emission lines, unusual for any known class of nuclear transient. While ASASSN-20hx has some characteristics seen in both tidal disruption events (TDEs) and active galactic nuclei (AGNs), it cannot be definitively classified with current data.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Evaluating the Consistency of Cosmological Distances Using Supernova Siblings in the Near-Infrared

The study of supernova siblings, supernovae with the same host galaxy, is an important avenue for understanding and measuring the properties of Type Ia Supernova (SN Ia) light curves (LCs). Thus far, sibling analyses have mainly focused on optical LC data. Considering that LCs in the near-infrared (NIR) are expected to be better standard candles than those in the optical, we carry out the first analysis compiling SN siblings with only NIR data. We perform an extensive literature search of all SN siblings and find six sets of siblings with published NIR photometry. We calibrate each set of siblings ensuring they are on homogeneous photometric systems, fit the LCs with the SALT3-NIR and SNooPy models, and find median absolute differences in $μ$ values between siblings of 0.248 mag and 0.186 mag, respectively. To evaluate the significance of these differences beyond measurement noise, we run simulations that mimic these LCs and provide an estimate for uncertainty on these median absolute differences of $\sim$0.052 mag, and we find that our analysis supports the existence of intrinsic scatter in the NIR at the 99% level. When comparing the same sets of SN siblings, we observe a median absolute difference in $μ$ values between siblings of 0.177 mag when using optical data alone as compared to 0.186 mag when using NIR data alone. We attribute this to either limited statistics, poor quality NIR data, or poor reduction of the NIR data; all of which will be improved with the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2023

An Episode of Occultation Events in Gaia21bcv

A previously unremarkable star near the Canis Major OB1/R1 association underwent an episode of multiple deep brightness minima. Light curves based on archival Gaia, ZTF, NEOWISE data and additional observations from LCO and UKIRT show that the star was not variable prior to 2019 Aug 18 (MJD 58700), and on that date started showing brightness dips of up to 3 magnitudes in the Gaia G and ZTF r bandpasses. After MJD 59500, ~800 days after the onset of these dipping events, the star returned to its previous brightness, and no significant dipping events have been recorded since. Compared to the stable phase, NEOWISE infrared photometry in the W1 and W2 bands indicates a generally redder color, and both decreases and increases in brightness at different times during the dipping episode. The spectrum of Gaia21bcv taken after the end of the dipping episode shows several neutral and ionized metal absorption lines, including Li, indicating a spectral type of ~ K5. Variable emission from [OI] was observed. The H alpha absorption in Gaia21bcv is too faint and irregular for this spectral type, indicating that the line is partly filled in by variable emission, a signature of weak episodic accretion. Gaia21bcv lies above the zero-age main sequence, but is much fainter than typical R CrB stars. We interpret the light curve of Gaia21bcv as being similar to the occultation events in Epsilon Aurigae, i.e., occultation by a disk around a companion object orbiting the primary star.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2023

Strong Carbon Features and a Red Early Color in the Underluminous Type Ia SN 2022xkq

We present optical, infrared, ultraviolet, and radio observations of SN 2022xkq, an underluminous fast-declining type Ia supernova (SN Ia) in NGC 1784 ($\mathrm{D}\approx31$ Mpc), from $<1$ to 180 days after explosion. The high-cadence observations of SN 2022xkq, a photometrically transitional and spectroscopically 91bg-like SN Ia, cover the first days and weeks following explosion which are critical to distinguishing between explosion scenarios. The early light curve of SN 2022xkq has a red early color and exhibits a flux excess which is more prominent in redder bands; this is the first time such a feature has been seen in a transitional/91bg-like SN Ia. We also present 92 optical and 19 near-infrared (NIR) spectra, beginning 0.4 days after explosion in the optical and 2.6 days after explosion in the NIR. SN 2022xkq exhibits a long-lived C I 1.0693 $μ$m feature which persists until 5 days post-maximum. We also detect C II $λ$6580 in the pre-maximum optical spectra. These lines are evidence for unburnt carbon that is difficult to reconcile with the double detonation of a sub-Chandrasekhar mass white dwarf. No existing explosion model can fully explain the photometric and spectroscopic dataset of SN 2022xkq, but the considerable breadth of the observations is ideal for furthering our understanding of the processes which produce faint SNe Ia.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

The DEHVILS Survey Overview and Initial Data Release: High-Quality Near-Infrared Type Ia Supernova Light Curves at Low Redshift

While the sample of optical Type Ia Supernova (SN Ia) light curves (LCs) usable for cosmological parameter measurements surpasses 2000, the sample of published, cosmologically viable near-infrared (NIR) SN Ia LCs, which have been shown to be good "standard candles," is still $\lesssim$ 200. Here, we present high-quality NIR LCs for 83 SNe Ia ranging from $0.002 < z < 0.09$ as a part of the Dark Energy, H$_0$, and peculiar Velocities using Infrared Light from Supernovae (DEHVILS) survey. Observations are taken using UKIRT's WFCAM, where the median depth of the images is 20.7, 20.1, and 19.3 mag (Vega) for $Y$, $J$, and $H$-bands, respectively. The median number of epochs per SN Ia is 18 for all three bands ($YJH$) combined and 6 for each band individually. We fit 47 SN Ia LCs that pass strict quality cuts using three LC models, SALT3, SNooPy, and BayeSN and find scatter on the Hubble diagram to be comparable to or better than scatter from optical-only fits in the literature. Fitting NIR-only LCs, we obtain standard deviations ranging from 0.128-0.135 mag. Additionally, we present a refined calibration method for transforming 2MASS magnitudes to WFCAM magnitudes using HST CALSPEC stars that results in a 0.03 mag shift in the WFCAM $Y$-band magnitudes.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2022

COol Companions ON Ultrawide orbiTS (COCONUTS). III. A Very Red L6 Benchmark Brown Dwarf around a Young M5 Dwarf

We present the third discovery from the COol Companions ON Ultrawide orbiTS (COCONUTS) program, the COCONUTS-3 system, composed of a young M5 primary star UCAC4 374-046899 and a very red L6 dwarf WISEA J081322.19$-$152203.2. These two objects have a projected separation of 61$''$ (1891 au) and are physically associated given their common proper motions and estimated distances. The primary star, COCONUTS-3A, has a mass of $0.123\pm0.006$ M$_{\odot}$ and we estimate its age as 100 Myr to 1 Gyr based on its kinematics and spectrophotometric properties. We derive its metallicity as $0.21 \pm 0.07$ dex using empirical calibrations established by older higher-gravity M dwarfs and find this [Fe/H] could be slightly underestimated according to PHOENIX models given COCONUTS-3A's younger age. The companion, COCONUTS-3B, has a near-infrared spectral type of L6$\pm$1 INT-G, and we infer physical properties of $T_{\rm eff} = 1362^{+48}_{-73}$ K, $\log{(g)}= 4.96^{+0.15}_{-0.34}$ dex, $R = 1.03^{+0.12}_{-0.06}$ R$_{\rm Jup}$, and $M = 39^{+11}_{-18}$ M$_{\rm Jup}$, using its bolometric luminosity, its host star's age, and hot-start evolution models. We construct cloudy atmospheric model spectra at the evolution-based physical parameters and compare them to COCONUTS-3B's spectrophotometry. We find this companion possesses ample condensate clouds in its photosphere with the data-model discrepancies likely due to the models using an older version of the opacity database. Compared to field-age L6 dwarfs, COCONUTS-3B has fainter absolute magnitudes and a 120 K cooler $T_{\rm eff}$. Also, the J-K color of this companion is among the reddest for ultracool benchmarks with ages older than a few 100 Myr. COCONUTS-3 likely formed in the same fashion as stellar binaries given the companion-to-host mass ratio of 0.3 and represents a valuable benchmark to quantify the systematics of substellar model atmospheres.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2021

Late-Onset Circumstellar Medium Interactions are Rare: An Unbiased GALEX View of Type Ia Supernovae

Using ultraviolet (UV) light curves we constrain the circumstellar environments of 1080 Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) within $z<0.5$ from archival Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) observations. All SNe Ia are required to have pre- and post-explosion GALEX observations to ensure adequate subtraction of the host-galaxy flux. Using the late-time GALEX observations we look for the UV excess expected from any interaction between the SN ejecta and circumstellar material (CSM). Four SNe Ia are detected near maximum light and we compare the GALEX photometry to archival data, but we find none of our targets show convincing evidence of CSM interaction. A recent Hubble Space Telescope (HST) survey estimates that $\sim6\%$ of SNe Ia may interact with distant CSM, but statistical inferences are complicated by the small sample size and selection effects. By injecting model light curves into our data and then recovering them, we constrain a broad range of CSM interactions based on the CSM interaction start time and the maximum luminosity. Combining our GALEX non-detections with the HST results, we constrain occurrence of late-onset CSM interaction among SNe Ia with moderate CSM interaction, similar to that observed in PTF11kx, to $f_\text{CSM}\lesssim5.1\%$ between $0-500$ days after discovery and $\lesssim2.7\%$ between $500-1000$ days after discovery at $90\%$ confidence. For weaker CSM interactions similar to SN 2015cp, we obtain limits of $\lesssim16\%$ and $\lesssim4.8\%$, respectively, for the same time ranges.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

Simultaneous Multiwavelength Flare Observations of EV Lacertae

We present the first results of our ongoing project conducting simultaneous multiwavelength observations of flares on nearby active M dwarfs. We acquired data of the nearby dM3.5e star EV Lac using 5 different observatories: NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory (\textit{Swift}), NASA's Neutron Interior Composition Explorer (NICER), the University of Hawaii 2.2-m telescope (UH88) and the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope (LCOGT) Network. During the $\sim$25 days of TESS observations, we acquired three simultaneous UV/X-ray observations using \textit{Swift} that total $\sim$18 ks, 21 simultaneous epochs totaling $\sim$98 ks of X-ray data using NICER, one observation ($\sim$ 3 hours) with UH88, and one observation ($\sim$ 3 hours) with LCOGT. We identified 56 flares in the TESS light curve with estimated energies in the range log $E_{\rm T}$ (erg) = (30.5 - 33.2), nine flares in the \textit{Swift} UVM2 light curve with estimated energies in the range log $E_{UV}$ (erg) = (29.3 - 31.1), 14 flares in the NICER light curve with estimated minimum energies in the range log $E_{N}$ (erg) = (30.5 - 32.3), and 1 flare in the LCOGT light curve with log $E_{L}$ (erg) = 31.6. We find that the flare frequency distributions (FFDs) of TESS and NICER flares have comparable slopes, $β_{T}$ = -0.67$\pm$0.09 and $β_{N}$ = -0.65$\pm$0.19, and the FFD of UVOT flares has a shallower slope ($β_{U}$ = -0.38$\pm$0.13). Furthermore, we do not find conclusive evidence for either the first ionization potential (FIP) or the inverse FIP effect during coronal flares on EV Lac.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2021

The Changing Look Blazar B2 1420+32

Blazars are active galactic nuclei with their relativistic jets pointing toward the observer, with two major sub-classes, the flat spectrum radio quasars and BL Lac objects. We present multi-wavelength photometric and spectroscopic monitoring observations of the blazar, B2 1420+32, focusing on its outbursts in 2018-2020. Multi-epoch spectra show that the blazar exhibited large scale spectral variability in both its continuum and line emission, accompanied by dramatic gamma-ray and optical variability by factors of up to 40 and 15, respectively, on week to month timescales. Over the last decade, the gamma-ray and optical fluxes increased by factors of 1500 and 100, respectively. B2 1420+32 was an FSRQ with broad emission lines in 1995. Following a series of flares starting in 2018, it transitioned between BL Lac and FSRQ states multiple times, with the emergence of a strong Fe pseudo continuum. Two spectra also contain components that can be modeled as single-temperature black bodies of 12,000 and 5,200 K. Such a collection of "changing look" features has never been observed previously in a blazar. We measure gamma-ray-optical and the inter-band optical lags implying emission region separations of less than 800 and 130 gravitational radii respectively. Since most emission line flux variations, except the Fe continuum, are within a factor of 2-3, the transitions between FSRQ and BL Lac classifications are mainly caused by the continuum variability. The large Fe continuum flux increase suggests the occurrence of dust sublimation releasing more Fe ions in the central engine and an energy transfer from the relativistic jet to sub-relativistic emission components.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

Blast From the Past: Constraining Progenitor Models of SN 1972E

We present a novel technique to study Type Ia supernovae by constraining surviving companions of historical extragalactic SN by combining archival photographic plates and Hubble Space Telescope imaging. We demonstrate this technique for Supernova 1972E, the nearest known SN Ia in over 125 years. Some models of Type Ia supernovae describe a white dwarf with a non-degenerate companion that donates enough mass to trigger thermonuclear detonation. Hydrodynamic simulations and stellar evolution models show that these donor stars survive the explosion, and show increased luminosity for at least a thousand years. Thus, late-time observations of the exact location of a supernova after its ejecta have faded can constrain the presence of a surviving donor star and progenitor models. We find the explosion site of SN 1972E by analyzing 17 digitized photographic plates taken with the European Southern Observatory 1m Schmidt and 1 plate taken with the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory 1.5m telescope from 1972-1974. Using the \textit{Gaia} eDR3 catalog to determine Supernova 1972E's equatorial coordinates yields: $α$ = 13$^h$ 39$^m$ 52.708$^s$ $\pm$ 0.004$^s$ and $δ$ = $-$31\degree 40' 8\farcs97 $\pm$ 0\farcs04 (ICRS). In 2005, HST/ACS imaged NGC 5253, the host galaxy of SN 1972E, with the $F435W$, $F555W$, and $F814W$ filters covering the explosion site. The nearest source detected is offset by 3.0 times our positional precision, and is inconsistent with the colors expected of a surviving donor star. Thus, the 2005 HST observation rules out all Helium-star companion models, and the most luminous main-sequence companion model currently in the literature. The remaining main-sequence companion models could be tested with deeper HST imaging.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2020

The Outburst of the Young Star Gaia19bey

We report photometry and spectroscopy of the outburst of the young stellar object Gaia19bey. We have established the outburst light curve with archival Gaia G, ATLAS Orange, ZTF r-band and Pan-STARRS rizy-filter photometry, showing an outburst of approximately 4 years duration, longer than typical EXors but shorter than FUors. Its pre-outburst SED shows a flat far-infrared spectrum, confirming the early evolutionary state of Gaia19bey and its similarity to other deeply embedded young stars experiencing outbursts. A lower limit to the peak outburst luminosity is approximately 182 L_sun at an assumed distance of 1.4 kpc, the minimum plausible distance. Infrared and optical spectroscopy near maximum light showed an emission line spectrum, including HI lines, strong red CaII emission, other metal emission lines, infrared CO bandhead emission, and a strong infrared continuum. Towards the end of the outburst, the emission lines have all but disappeared and the spectrum has changed into an almost pure continuum spectrum. This indicates a cessation of magnetospheric accretion activity. The near-infrared colors have become redder as Gaia19bey has faded, indicating a cooling of the continuum component. Near the end of the outburst, the only remaining strong emission lines are forbidden shock-excited emission lines. Adaptive optics integral field spectroscopy shows the H_2 1--0 S(1) emission with the morphology of an outflow cavity and the extended emission in the [FeII] line at 1644 nm with the morphology of an edge-on disk. However, we do not detect any large-scale jet from Gaia19bey.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2020

COol Companions ON Ultrawide orbiTS (COCONUTS). I. A High-Gravity T4 Benchmark around an Old White Dwarf and A Re-Examination of the Surface-Gravity Dependence of the L/T Transition

We present the first discovery from the COol Companions ON Ultrawide orbiTS (COCONUTS) program, a large-scale survey for wide-orbit planetary and substellar companions. We have discovered a co-moving system COCONUTS-1, composed of a hydrogen-dominated white dwarf (PSO J058.9855+45.4184; $d=31.5$ pc) and a T4 companion (PSO J058.9869+45.4296) at a $40.6''$ (1280 au) projected separation. We derive physical properties for COCONUTS-1B from (1) its near-infrared spectrum using cloudless Sonora atmospheric models, and (2) its luminosity and the white dwarf's age ($7.3_{-1.6}^{+2.8}$ Gyr) using Sonora evolutionary models. The two methods give consistent temperatures and radii, but atmospheric models infer a lower surface gravity and therefore an unphysically young age. Assuming evolutionary model parameters ($T_{\rm eff}=1255^{+6}_{-8}$ K, $\log{g}=5.44^{+0.02}_{-0.03}$ dex, $R=0.789^{+0.011}_{-0.005}$ R$_{\rm Jup}$), we find cloudless model atmospheres have brighter Y- and J-band fluxes than the data, suggesting condensate clouds have not fully dispersed around 1300 K. The W2 flux (4.6 $μ$m) of COCONUTS-1B is fainter than models, suggesting non-equilibrium mixing of CO. To investigate the gravity dependence of the L/T transition, we compile all 60 known L6-T6 benchmarks and derive a homogeneous set of temperatures, surface gravities, and masses. As is well-known, young, low-gravity late-L dwarfs have significantly fainter, redder near-infrared photometry and $\approx200-300$ K cooler temperatures than old, high-gravity objects. Our sample now reveals such gravity dependence becomes weaker for T dwarfs, with young objects having comparable near-infrared photometry and $\approx100$ K cooler temperatures compared to old objects. Finally, we find that young objects have a larger amplitude J-band brightening than old objects, and also brighten at H band as they cross the L/T transition.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2019

WISE J072003.20-084651.2B Is A Massive T Dwarf

We present individual dynamical masses for the nearby M9.5+T5.5 binary WISE J072003.20$-$084651.2AB, a.k.a. Scholz's star. Combining high-precision CFHT/WIRCam photocenter astrometry and Keck adaptive optics resolved imaging, we measure the first high-quality parallactic distance ($6.80_{-0.06}^{+0.05}$ pc) and orbit ($8.06_{-0.25}^{+0.24}$ yr period) for this system composed of a low-mass star and brown dwarf. We find a moderately eccentric orbit ($e = 0.240_{-0.010}^{+0.009}$), incompatible with previous work based on less data, and dynamical masses of $99\pm6$ $M_{\rm Jup}$ and $66\pm4$ $M_{\rm Jup}$ for the two components. The primary mass is marginally inconsistent (2.1$σ$) with the empirical mass$-$magnitude$-$metallicity relation and models of main-sequence stars. The relatively high mass of the cold ($T_{\rm eff} = 1250\pm40$ K) brown dwarf companion indicates an age older than a few Gyr, in accord with age estimates for the primary star, and is consistent with our recent estimate of $\approx$70 $M_{\rm Jup}$ for the stellar/substellar boundary among the field population. Our improved parallax and proper motion, as well as an orbit-corrected system velocity, improve the accuracy of the system's close encounter with the solar system by an order of magnitude. WISE J0720$-$0846AB passed within $68.7\pm2.0$ kAU of the Sun $80.5\pm0.7$ kyr ago, passing through the outer Oort cloud where comets can have stable orbits.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2018

Interstellar Interlopers: Number Density and Origins of 'Oumuamua-like Objects

We provide a calculation of Pan-STARRS' ability to detect objects similar to the interstellar object 1I/2017 U1 (hereafter 'Oumuamua), including the most detectable approach vectors and the effect of object size on detection efficiency. Using our updated detection cross-section, we infer an interstellar number density of such objects ($n_{IS} \approx 0.2~\rm{au}^{-3}$). This translates to a mass density of $ρ_{IS} \approx 4M_\oplus~\rm{pc}^{-3}$ which cannot be populated unless every star is contributing. We find that given current models, such a number density cannot arise from the ejection of inner solar system material during planet formation. We note that a stellar system's Oort cloud will be released after a star's main sequence life time and may provide enough material to obtain the observed density. The challenge is that Oort cloud bodies are icy and \OBJECT was observed to be dry which necessitates a crust generation mechanism.

astro-ph.EP↗