HST/NICMOS observations of a proto-brown dwarf candidate

D. Apai; L. V. Tóth; T. Henning; R. Vavrek; Z. Kovács; D. Lemke

doi:10.1051/0004-6361:200500098

HST/NICMOS observations of a proto-brown dwarf candidate

D. Apai, L. V. Tóth, T. Henning, R. Vavrek, Z. Kovács, D. Lemke

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12 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present deep HST/NICMOS observations peering through the outflow cavity of the protostellar candidate IRAS 04381+2540 in the Taurus Molecular Cloud-1. A young stellar object as central source, a jet and a very faint and close (0.6″) companion are identified. The primary and the companion have similar colours, consistent with strong reddening. We argue that the companion is neither a shock-excited knot nor a background star. The colour/magnitude information predicts a substellar upper mass limit for the companion, but the final confirmation will require spectroscopic information. Because of its geometry, young age and its rare low-mass companion, this system is likely to provide a unique insight into the formation of brown dwarfs.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	L33-L36
Journal	Astronomy and astrophysics
Volume	433
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:200500098
State	Published - Apr 2005

Keywords

Binaries: close
Planetary systems: protoplanetary disks
Stars: formation
Stars: low-mass, brown dwarfs stars: Pre-main sequence

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1051/0004-6361:200500098

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title = "HST/NICMOS observations of a proto-brown dwarf candidate",

abstract = "We present deep HST/NICMOS observations peering through the outflow cavity of the protostellar candidate IRAS 04381+2540 in the Taurus Molecular Cloud-1. A young stellar object as central source, a jet and a very faint and close (0.6″) companion are identified. The primary and the companion have similar colours, consistent with strong reddening. We argue that the companion is neither a shock-excited knot nor a background star. The colour/magnitude information predicts a substellar upper mass limit for the companion, but the final confirmation will require spectroscopic information. Because of its geometry, young age and its rare low-mass companion, this system is likely to provide a unique insight into the formation of brown dwarfs.",

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author = "D. Apai and T{\'o}th, {L. V.} and T. Henning and R. Vavrek and Z. Kov{\'a}cs and D. Lemke",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - HST/NICMOS observations of a proto-brown dwarf candidate

AU - Apai, D.

AU - Tóth, L. V.

AU - Henning, T.

AU - Vavrek, R.

AU - Kovács, Z.

AU - Lemke, D.

PY - 2005/4

Y1 - 2005/4

N2 - We present deep HST/NICMOS observations peering through the outflow cavity of the protostellar candidate IRAS 04381+2540 in the Taurus Molecular Cloud-1. A young stellar object as central source, a jet and a very faint and close (0.6″) companion are identified. The primary and the companion have similar colours, consistent with strong reddening. We argue that the companion is neither a shock-excited knot nor a background star. The colour/magnitude information predicts a substellar upper mass limit for the companion, but the final confirmation will require spectroscopic information. Because of its geometry, young age and its rare low-mass companion, this system is likely to provide a unique insight into the formation of brown dwarfs.

AB - We present deep HST/NICMOS observations peering through the outflow cavity of the protostellar candidate IRAS 04381+2540 in the Taurus Molecular Cloud-1. A young stellar object as central source, a jet and a very faint and close (0.6″) companion are identified. The primary and the companion have similar colours, consistent with strong reddening. We argue that the companion is neither a shock-excited knot nor a background star. The colour/magnitude information predicts a substellar upper mass limit for the companion, but the final confirmation will require spectroscopic information. Because of its geometry, young age and its rare low-mass companion, this system is likely to provide a unique insight into the formation of brown dwarfs.

KW - Binaries: close

KW - Planetary systems: protoplanetary disks

KW - Stars: formation

KW - Stars: low-mass, brown dwarfs stars: Pre-main sequence

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U2 - 10.1051/0004-6361:200500098

DO - 10.1051/0004-6361:200500098

M3 - Article

SN - 0004-6361

VL - 433

SP - L33-L36

JO - Astronomy and astrophysics

JF - Astronomy and astrophysics

IS - 2

ER -

HST/NICMOS observations of a proto-brown dwarf candidate

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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