arXiv subjects

Sasha Hinkley

Publications and source records attributed to Sasha Hinkley.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Exploration of Exoplanet Atmospheres with the James Webb Space Telescope

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is providing transformative characterization capabilities for the study of both transiting and directly imaged extrasolar planets. Observations deep into the infrared in the form of both spectroscopy and coronagraphic imaging means that JWST is uniquely sensitive to most of the physical processes that dictate the properties of exoplanetary atmospheres. The observatory's thermal and pointing stability directly translates into the extreme photometric precision needed for exquisite transiting exoplanet photometry, as well as highly sensitive coronagraphic observations. Over the mission's 20-25 year lifetime, roughly 10$^4$ hours will be dedicated to observations of exoplanet atmospheres, providing a legacy data archive that will allow population-level characterization of exoplanet atmospheres spanning terrestrial planets, sub-Neptunes and gas giants. This effort will also assess the prevalence of atmospheres of rocky planets and thus the degree to which such planets may have conditions conducive to habitability.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2026

The JWST Early Release Science Program for Direct Observations of Exoplanetary Systems VIII: patchy forsterite and enstatite clouds in the atmosphere of VHS 1256 b, retrieval lessons learned and outlook to the future

JWST defines a new era for the data-driven approach of retrieval modelling, which has become a cornerstone tool for the statistical inference of exoplanetary and brown dwarf properties. The Early Release Science program #1386 observations of VHS 1256 b represent a huge jump in data quality, data quantity and spectral coverage for such objects. VHS 1256 b is a young, planetary mass and extremely variable companion that populates the enigmatic L/T cohort of substellar atmospheres. In this first retrieval analysis of the full 1 - 18 micron dataset, we apply the Brewster retrieval framework to the NIRSpec and MIRI spectroscopic observations of VHS 1256 b, exploring a variety of cloud species and structures. Using Delta(BIC) we find that the data is best described by a forsterite (Mg$_{2}$SiO$_{4}$) and enstatite (MgSiO$_{3}$) cloud combination. Our analysis shows a strong preference for patchy silicate cloud coverage, which aligns with VHS 1256 b's extensive and well documented spectral variability. Our retrieval is able to place constraints on the abundances of H$_{2}$O, CO, CO$_{2}$, CH$_{4}$ as well as NH$_{3}$. We also show that the retrieved parameters are sensitive to the data used and the relative signal-to-noise ratios between data from different instruments. We conclude with the next steps for the wider retrieval community to better understand young and cloudy exoplanetary atmospheres.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2026

Direct Imaging Discovery of Giant Exoplanet $β$ Pictoris d: A Decade-Long Game of Hide-and-Seek

We report the direct imaging discovery of a third exoplanet in the $β$ Pictoris system. We detect $β$ Pictoris d ($β$ Pic d) in non-coronagraphic observations obtained with VLT/ERIS as well as multi-epoch archival datasets from JWST/NIRCam and VLT/SPHERE. Astrometric measurements over an 11-year baseline demonstrate that it is consistent with a gravitationally-bound source with orbital motion. Joint multi-planet orbit fits of all three planets in the system yield a semi-major axis of $26.0^{+2.2}_{-6.1}$ au and inclination $89.0^{+0.7}_{-0.6}$ deg for planet d. $β$ Pic d has a larger orbital semi-major axis than the other known planets in the system, but is coplanar with the inner two planets, and its orbit is consistent with sculpting the inner edge of the debris disk. $β$ Pic d has a contrast of $ΔL^{\prime}=12.11\pm0.15$ mag, with colors and luminosity that closely match those of 51 Eri b, another exoplanet in the $β$ Pictoris moving group. Its VLT/ERIS and JWST/NIRCam colors are distinct from those of free-floating planetary-mass objects of a similar age and temperature. Its red $F410M-F444W$ color indicates strong CO$_2$ absorption in its atmosphere and suggests significant enhancement in metals compared to free-floating objects. From the ATMO hot-start evolutionary models, we estimate an effective temperature of $600^{+45}_{-60}$ K and mass of $2.4\pm0.6$ $M_{\rm Jup}$, which also closely matches similar estimates for 51 Eri b. $β$ Pic d is among the lowest-mass exoplanets imaged from the ground. This discovery highlights the deep sensitivity achievable with ground-based imaging in the mid-infrared and the discovery potential of future high-contrast observations with the Extremely Large Telescope.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2026

The JWST Early Release Science Program for Direct Observations of Exoplanetary Systems. VII. Molecular Mapping Performance with JWST/MIRI MRS: VHS 1256 b as a case study

VHS 1256 b was the first planetary-mass companion to be observed with the James Webb Space Telescope's Mid-Infrared Instrument (JWST/MIRI) using the Medium-Resolution Spectrometer (MRS). The MRS provides high-quality integral-field spectral data in the mid-infrared (IR) wavelengths from 4.9 to 18 um. This dataset serves as a testbed for applying cross-correlation techniques to characterize exoplanet atmospheres. We implement the so-called molecular mapping approach, which consists of performing a spectral cross-correlation between each spectral pixel and atmospheric model templates. We compare these results with those obtained from cross-correlation of the extracted spectrum. Using a self-consistent Exo-REM atmospheric model grid, we constrain the temperature, surface gravity, C/O ratio, and metallicity, finding values consistent with those obtained from other analysis methods. We detect CO (S/N $\sim$ 25) and H2O (S/N $\sim$ 76), with tentative detections of NH3 and CH4 (S/N$\sim$ 3). We test cross-correlation to measure trace-species abundances and isotopic ratios. We measure a volume mixing ratio of [NH3] =-5.73^{+0.15}_{-0.14} and an isotopic ratio $^{12}\mathrm{C}/^{13}\mathrm{C}=77.8^{+13}_{-10}$, both consistent with free-chemistry retrievals. The derived NH3 volume mixing ratio, combined with the measured temperature and radius, is consistent with VHS 1256 b having a mass above the deuterium-burning limit. These results demonstrate the diagnostic power of mid-IR spectroscopy and highlight cross-correlation as a robust method for characterizing directly imaged exoplanets, even in future higher-contrast regimes where spectral extraction becomes challenging. Future MIRI MRS observations across a wider range of temperatures and masses will further expand our understanding of planetary atmospheric chemistry.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2026

The Key to Unlocking Exoplanet Biosignatures: a UK-led IR Spectrograph for the Habitable Worlds Observatory Coronagraph

The detection of life on rocky exoplanets in the habitable zones of nearby stars would be a paradigm-shifting advance, and it is one of the greatest scientific challenges of our time. There is no single spectral feature that is an unambiguous sign of life on a given exoplanet. Instead, the current state-of-the-art approach involves detecting multiple molecular atmospheric features that should not exist together in equilibrium, e.g. simultaneous detection of O$_2$ and CH$_4$. Spectra across a wide wavelength (0.3-1.7 $μ$m) range are necessary to cover multiple spectral features per molecule of interest and to contextualise the suite of molecular features detected. While the US will lead the optical arm of the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) coronagraph, a UK-led contribution of a near-infrared Integral Field Spectrograph (IFS) for the infrared arm will ensure UK leadership in the flagship scientific goal of HWO - to search for signatures of life on potentially habitable exoplanets.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2026

Exoplanet atmospheres and demographics in the 2040s

Direct observations of exoplanets probe the demographics and atmospheric composition of young self-luminous companions, yielding insight into their formation and early evolution history. In the near future, Gaia will reveal hundreds of nearby young exoplanets amenable to direct follow-up observations. Long-baseline interferometry with current and future facilities is best capable of exploiting this unique synergy which is poised to deliver a statistical sample of benchmark planets with precise dynamical masses and in-depth atmospheric characterization. This will enable tackling the longstanding question of how giant planets form from multiple angles simultaneously, shining light on the complex physical processes underlying planet formation.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2025

Large-amplitude Variability Driven by Giant Dust Storms on a Planetary-mass Companion

Large-amplitude variations are commonly observed in the atmospheres of directly imaged exoplanets and brown dwarfs. VHS 1256B, the most variable known planet-mass object, exhibits a near-infrared flux change of nearly 40%, with red color and silicate features revealed in recent JWST spectra, challenging current theories. Using a general circulation model, we demonstrate that VHS 1256B's atmosphere is dominated by planetary-scale dust storms persisting for tens of days, with large patchy clouds propagating with equatorial waves. This weather pattern, distinct from the banded structures seen on solar system giants, simultaneously explains the observed spectra and critical features in the rotational light curves, including the large amplitude, irregular evolution, and wavelength dependence, as well as the variability trends observed in near-infrared color-magnitude diagrams of dusty substellar atmospheres.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2025

Follow-Up Exploration of the TWA 7 Planet-Disk System with JWST NIRCam

The young M-star TWA 7 hosts a bright and near face-on debris disk, which has been imaged from the optical to the submillimeter. The disk displays multiple complex substructures such as three disk components, a large dust clump, and spiral arms, suggesting the presence of planets to actively sculpt these features. The evidence for planets in this disk was further strengthened with the recent detection of a point-source compatible with a Saturn-mass planet companion using JWST/MIRI at 11 $μ$m, at the location a planet was predicted to reside based on the disk morphology. In this paper, we present new observations of the TWA 7 system with JWST/NIRCam in the F200W and F444W filters. The disk is detected at both wavelengths and presents many of the same substructures as previously imaged, although we do not robustly detect the southern spiral arm. Furthermore, we detect two faint potential companions in the F444W filter at the 2-3$σ$ level. While one of these companions needs further followup to determine its nature, the other one coincides with the location of the planet candidate imaged with MIRI, providing further evidence that this source is a sub-Jupiter mass planet companion rather than a background galaxy. Such discoveries make TWA 7 only the second system, after $β$ Pictoris, in which a planet predicted by the debris disk morphology has been detected.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2025

Differentiating Formation Models with New Dynamical Masses for the PDS 70 Protoplanets

Hot- and cold-start planet formation models predict differing luminosities for the young, bright planets that direct imaging surveys are most sensitive to. However, precise mass estimates are required to distinguish between these models observationally. The presence of two directly imaged planets, PDS 70 b and c, in the PDS 70 protoplanetary disk provides us a unique opportunity for dynamical mass measurements, since the masses for these planets are currently poorly constrained. Fitting orbital parameters to new astrometry of these planets, taken with VLTI/GRAVITY in the $K$~band, we find $2σ$ dynamical upper mass limits of 4.9 $M_{\rm Jup}$ for b and 13.6 $M_{\rm Jup}$ for c. Adding astrometry from the newly proposed planet candidate PDS 70 d into our model, we determine $2σ$ dynamical upper mass limits of 5.3 $M_{\rm Jup}$, 7.5 $M_{\rm Jup}$ and 2.2 $M_{\rm Jup}$ for b, c, and the candidate d respectively. However, $N$-body analysis of the orbits fit in this case suggest that the inclusion of $d$ makes the system unstable. Using the upper mass limits for b and c we rule out the coldest-start formation models for both planets, calculating minimum post-formation entropies ($S_i$) of 9.5 $k_{\rm B}/{\rm baryon}$ and 8.4 $k_{\rm B}/{\rm baryon}$ respectively. This places PDS 70 b and c on the growing list of directly-imaged planets inconsistent with cold-start formation.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2025

The JWST Early Release Science Program for Direct Observations of Exoplanetary Systems III: Aperture Masking Interferometric Observations of the star HIP 65426 at 3.8 um

We present aperture masking interferometry (AMI) observations of the star HIP 65426 at $3.8\,\rm{μm}$ as a part of the JWST Direct Imaging Early Release Science (ERS) program obtained using the Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (NIRISS) instrument. This mode provides access to very small inner working angles (even separations slightly below the Michelson limit of $0.5λ/D$ for an interferometer), which are inaccessible with the classical inner working angles of the JWST coronagraphs. When combined with JWST's unprecedented infrared sensitivity, this mode has the potential to probe a new portion of parameter space across a wide array of astronomical observations. Using this mode, we are able to achieve a $5σ$ contrast of $Δm{\sim}7.62{\pm}0.13$ mag relative to the host star at separations ${\gtrsim}0.07{"}$, and the contrast deteriorates steeply at separations ${\lesssim}0.07{"}$. However, we detect no additional companions interior to the known companion HIP 65426 b (at separation ${\sim}0.82{"}$ or, $87^{+108}_{-31}\,\rm{au}$). Our observations thus rule out companions more massive than $10{-}12\,\rm{M_{Jup}}$ at separations ${\sim}10{-}20\,\rm{au}$ from HIP 65426, a region out of reach of ground or space-based coronagraphic imaging. These observations confirm that the AMI mode on JWST is sensitive to planetary mass companions at close-in separations (${\gtrsim}0.07{"}$), even for thousands of more distant stars at $\sim$100 pc, in addition to the stars in the nearby young moving groups as stated in previous works. This result will allow the planning and successful execution of future observations to probe the inner regions of nearby stellar systems, opening an essentially unexplored parameter space.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2024

Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE). XIV. Finding terrestrial protoplanets in the galactic neighborhood

The increased brightness temperature of young rocky protoplanets during their magma ocean epoch makes them potentially amenable to atmospheric characterization to distances from the solar system far greater than thermally equilibrated terrestrial exoplanets, offering observational opportunities for unique insights into the origin of secondary atmospheres and the near surface conditions of prebiotic environments. The Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE) mission will employ a space-based mid-infrared nulling interferometer to directly measure the thermal emission of terrestrial exoplanets. Here, we seek to assess the capabilities of various instrumental design choices of the LIFE mission concept for the detection of cooling protoplanets with transient high-temperature magma ocean atmospheres, in young stellar associations in particular. Using the LIFE mission instrument simulator (LIFEsim) we assess how specific instrumental parameters and design choices, such as wavelength coverage, aperture diameter, and photon throughput, facilitate or disadvantage the detection of protoplanets. We focus on the observational sensitivities of distance to the observed planetary system, protoplanet brightness temperature using a blackbody assumption, and orbital distance of the potential protoplanets around both G- and M-dwarf stars. Our simulations suggest that LIFE will be able to detect (S/N $\geq$ 7) hot protoplanets in young stellar associations up to distances of $\approx$100 pc from the solar system for reasonable integration times (up to $\sim$hours). Detection of an Earth-sized protoplanet orbiting a solar-sized host star at 1 AU requires less than 30 minutes of integration time. M-dwarfs generally need shorter integration times. The contribution from wavelength regions $<$6 $μ$m is important for decreasing the detection threshold and discriminating emission temperatures.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2024

A new atmospheric characterization of the sub-stellar companion HR\,2562\,B with JWST/MIRI observations

Context: HR2562B is a planetary-mass companion located 0.56arcsec (19au) from its host star. It is one of a few L/T transitional objects orbiting a young star. This companion provides insight into the evolution of young objects in the L/T transition. However, its key physical properties, such as Teff and mass, remain poorly constrained, with large uncertainties (34% for Teff, 22% for log(g)) based on near-infrared observations alone. Aims: We aim to refine these uncertainties, especially for Teff (1200-1700K) and log(g) (4-5), using new MIR data from the JWST/MIRI filters (10.65, 11.40, and 15.50 microns), and better understand the companion's chemical composition and its role in the L/T transition. Methods: MIRI data were processed using reference star differential imaging, revealing HR2562B at high S/N (16) in all 3 filters. We used 2 atmospheric models, ATMO and ExoREM, to fit the SED, combining MIR and NIR datasets. Additionally, we used CMD with brown dwarfs to explore the chemical composition of HR2562B's atmosphere and compare it to another L/T transition object, VHS1256b. Results: Our analysis improved the temperature precision (Teff=1255+-15K) by 6x compared to previous estimates. We also narrowed its luminosity to -4.69+-0.01 dex. Surface gravity remains uncertain (4.4-4.8), and its mass is estimated between 8 and 18.5Mj, depending on modeling and astrometry. Sensitivity analysis revealed the ability to detect objects between 2-5Mj at 100au. Conclusions: HR2562B likely has a near cloud-free atmosphere, with the ATMO model fitting better than ExoREM. Silicate absorption features are weak, requiring further spectroscopic observations. While HR2562B and VHS1256b share similarities, they are in different evolutionary stages, making HR2562B key to understanding young objects in the L/T transition. It is likely a planetary-mass companion, suggesting a reclassification as HR2562b.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2024

The JWST Early Release Science Program for Direct Observations of Exoplanetary Systems II: A 1 to 20 Micron Spectrum of the Planetary-Mass Companion VHS 1256-1257 b

We present the highest fidelity spectrum to date of a planetary-mass object. VHS 1256 b is a $<$20 M$_\mathrm{Jup}$ widely separated ($\sim$8\arcsec, a = 150 au), young, planetary-mass companion that shares photometric colors and spectroscopic features with the directly imaged exoplanets HR 8799 c, d, and e. As an L-to-T transition object, VHS 1256 b exists along the region of the color-magnitude diagram where substellar atmospheres transition from cloudy to clear. We observed VHS 1256~b with \textit{JWST}'s NIRSpec IFU and MIRI MRS modes for coverage from 1 $μ$m to 20 $μ$m at resolutions of $\sim$1,000 - 3,700. Water, methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sodium, and potassium are observed in several portions of the \textit{JWST} spectrum based on comparisons from template brown dwarf spectra, molecular opacities, and atmospheric models. The spectral shape of VHS 1256 b is influenced by disequilibrium chemistry and clouds. We directly detect silicate clouds, the first such detection reported for a planetary-mass companion.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2024

The JWST Early Release Science Program for Direct Observations of Exoplanetary Systems IV: NIRISS Aperture Masking Interferometry Performance and Lessons Learned

We present a performance analysis for the aperture masking interferometry (AMI) mode on board the James Webb Space Telescope Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (JWST/NIRISS). Thanks to self-calibrating observables, AMI accesses inner working angles down to and even within the classical diffraction limit. The scientific potential of this mode has recently been demonstrated by the Early Release Science (ERS) 1386 program with a deep search for close-in companions in the HIP 65426 exoplanetary system. As part of ERS 1386, we use the same data set to explore the random, static, and calibration errors of NIRISS AMI observables. We compare the observed noise properties and achievable contrast to theoretical predictions. We explore possible sources of calibration errors and show that differences in charge migration between the observations of HIP 65426 and point-spread function calibration stars can account for the achieved contrast curves. Lastly, we use self-calibration tests to demonstrate that with adequate calibration NIRISS F380M AMI can reach contrast levels of $\sim9-10$ mag at $\gtrsim λ/D$. These tests lead us to observation planning recommendations and strongly motivate future studies aimed at producing sophisticated calibration strategies taking these systematic effects into account. This will unlock the unprecedented capabilities of JWST/NIRISS AMI, with sensitivity to significantly colder, lower-mass exoplanets than lower-contrast ground-based AMI setups, at orbital separations inaccessible to JWST coronagraphy.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2024

The JWST Early Release Science Program for Direct Observations of Exoplanetary Systems V: Do Self-Consistent Atmospheric Models Represent JWST Spectra? A Showcase With VHS 1256 b

The unprecedented medium-resolution (R~1500-3500) near- and mid-infrared (1-18um) spectrum provided by JWST for the young (140+/-20Myr) low-mass (12-20MJup) L-T transition (L7) companion VHS1256b gives access to a catalogue of molecular absorptions. In this study, we present a comprehensive analysis of this dataset utilizing a forward modelling approach, applying our Bayesian framework, ForMoSA. We explore five distinct atmospheric models to assess their performance in estimating key atmospheric parameters: Teff, log(g), [M/H], C/O, gamma, fsed, and R. Our findings reveal that each parameter's estimate is significantly influenced by factors such as the wavelength range considered and the model chosen for the fit. This is attributed to systematic errors in the models and their challenges in accurately replicating the complex atmospheric structure of VHS1256b, notably the complexity of its clouds and dust distribution. To propagate the impact of these systematic uncertainties on our atmospheric property estimates, we introduce innovative fitting methodologies based on independent fits performed on different spectral windows. We finally derived a Teff consistent with the spectral type of the target, considering its young age, which is confirmed by our estimate of log(g). Despite the exceptional data quality, attaining robust estimates for chemical abundances [M/H] and C/O, often employed as indicators of formation history, remains challenging. Nevertheless, the pioneering case of JWST's data for VHS1256b has paved the way for future acquisitions of substellar spectra that will be systematically analyzed to directly compare the properties of these objects and correct the systematics in the models.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2024

A Uniform Analysis of Debris Disks with the Gemini Planet Imager II: Constraints on Dust Density Distribution Using Empirically-Informed Scattering Phase Functions

Spatially-resolved images of debris disks are necessary to determine disk morphological properties and the scattering phase function (SPF) which quantifies the brightness of scattered light as a function of phase angle. Current high-contrast imaging instruments have successfully resolved several dozens of debris disks around other stars, but few studies have investigated trends in the scattered-light, resolved population of debris disks in a uniform and consistent manner. We have combined Karhunen-Loeve Image Projection (KLIP) with radiative-transfer disk forward modeling in order to obtain the highest quality image reductions and constrain disk morphological properties of eight debris disks imaged by the Gemini Planet Imager at H-band with a consistent and uniformly-applied approach. In describing the scattering properties of our models, we assume a common SPF informed from solar system dust scattering measurements and apply it to all systems. We identify a diverse range of dust density properties among the sample, including critical radius, radial width, and vertical width. We also identify radially narrow and vertically extended disks that may have resulted from substellar companion perturbations, along with a tentative positive trend in disk eccentricity with relative disk width. We also find that using a common SPF can achieve reasonable model fits for disks that are axisymmetric and asymmetric when fitting models to each side of the disk independently, suggesting that scattering behavior from debris disks may be similar to Solar System dust.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2023

A Uniform Analysis of Debris Disks with the Gemini Planet Imager I: An Empirical Search for Perturbations from Planetary Companions in Polarized Light Images

The Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) has excelled in imaging debris disks in the near-infrared. The GPI Exoplanet Survey (GPIES) imaged twenty-four debris disks in polarized $H$-band light, while other programs observed half of these disks in polarized $J$- and/or $K1$-bands. Using these data, we present a uniform analysis of the morphology of each disk to find asymmetries suggestive of perturbations, particularly those due to planet-disk interactions. The multi-wavelength surface brightness, the disk color and geometry permit identification of any asymmetries such as warps or disk offsets from the central star. We find that nineteen of the disks in this sample exhibit asymmetries in surface brightness, disk color, disk geometry, or a combination of the three, suggesting that for this sample, perturbations, as seen in scattered light, are common. The relationship between these perturbations and potential planets in the system are discussed. We also explore correlations among stellar temperatures, ages, disk properties, and observed perturbations. We find significant trends between the vertical aspect ratio and the stellar temperature, disk radial extent, and the dust grain size distribution power-law, $q$. We also confirm a trend between the disk color and stellar effective temperature, where the disk becomes increasingly red/neutral with increasing temperature. Such results have important implications on the evolution of debris disk systems around stars of various spectral types.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2023

The first scattered light images of HD 112810, a faint debris disk in the Sco-Cen association

Context: Circumstellar debris disks provide insight into the formation and early evolution of planetary systems. Resolved belts in particular help to locate planetesimals in exosystems, and can hint at the presence of disk-sculpting exoplanets. Aims: We study the circumstellar environment of HD 112810 (HIP 63439), a mid-F type star in the Sco-Cen association with a significant infrared excess indicating the presence of a circumstellar debris disk. Methods: We collected five high-contrast observations of HD 112810 with VLT/SPHERE. We identified a debris disk in scattered light, and found that the debris signature is robust over a number of epochs and a variety of reduction techniques. We modelled the disk, accounting for self-subtraction and assuming that it is optically thin. Results: We find a single-belt debris disk, with a radius of 118$\pm$9au and an inclination angle of ${75.7}^{+1.1}_{-1.3}$$°$. This is in good agreement with the constraints from SED modelling and from a partially-resolved ALMA image of the system. No planets are detected, though planets below the detection limit ($\sim$2.6M$_\textrm{J}$ at a projected separation of 118au) could be present and could have contributed to sculpting the ring of debris. Conclusions: HD 112810 adds to the growing inventory of debris disks imaged in scattered light. The disk is faint, but the radius and the inclination of the disk are promising for follow-up studies of the dust properties.

astro-ph.EP↗