Year: 2005
Type: article
Abstract: We report the discovery of a nearly edge-on disk about the A0 star HD 32297 seen in light scattered by the disk grains revealed in NICMOS PSF-subtracted coronagraphic images. The disk extends to a distance of at least 400 AU (3 3) along its major axis with a 1.1 μm flux density of 4.81 ± 0.57 mJy beyond a radius of 0 3 from the coronagraphically occulted star. The fraction of 1.1 μm starlight scattered by the disk, 0.0033 ± 0.0004, is comparable to its fractional excess emission at 25 + 60 μm of ~0.0027 as measured from IRAS data. The disk appears to be inclined 10 5 ± 2 5 from an edge-on viewing geometry, with its major axis oriented 236 5 ± 1° eastward of north. The disk exhibits unequal brightness on opposing sides and a break in the surface brightness profile along the NE-side disk major axis. Such asymmetries might implicate the existence of one or more (unseen) planetary mass companions.
Source: The Astrophysical Journal
DOI: 10.1086/452631
Authors: Glenn Schneider, Murray D. Silverstone, Dean C. Hines
Institutions: University of Arizona, Space Science Institute
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Awards: G433322167, G58316358, G6273510985
OpenAlex ID: W2154282000