Bibcode
Martin, E. L.; Zapatero Osorio, M. R.; Bejar, V. J. S.; Rebolo, R.; Barrado y Navascues, D.; Mundt, R.; Eisloffel, J.; Caballero, J. A.
Bibliographical reference
American Astronomical Society, 200th AAS Meeting, #92.02; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 34, p.954
Advertised on:
6
2002
Citations
0
Refereed citations
0
Description
We report on our continuing effort to identify extremely low-mass
members of the cluster around the hot star sigma Orionis. Using the
KeckI telescope in Hawaii and the Isaac Newton telescope in La Palma, we
carried out a deep near-infrared and optical search in an area of 55
square arcminutes, which has yielded the discovery of an object with
blue near-infrared color (J-H=-0.11) and very red optical color
(I-J=4.85). Such colors are characteristic of the coolest dwarfs, which
have a spectral energy distribution dominated by strong methane and
water molecular bands. A near-infrared spectrum obtained with the KeckI
telescope confirms the presence of methane bands. Comparison of our Keck
spectrum with synthetic spectra, provided by France Allard, yields a
temperature in the range 700--1000 K and gravity log g=4.0 +/- 0.5.
These physical parameters indicate that the object is associated to the
very young star sigma Orionis, and therefore we obtain an age in the
range 1-8 Myr, from which we derive a mass between 2 and 7 Jupiter
masses. This object, which we have named SOri70, is the lowest mass
planet-like object imaged to date, and suggests that planetary mass
objects free floating in space can be numerous.