The American Astronomical Society (AAS), established in 1899 and based in Washington, DC, is the major organization of professional astronomers in North America. Its membership of about 7,000 individuals also includes physicists, mathematicians, geologists, engineers, and others whose research and educational interests lie within the broad spectrum of subjects comprising contemporary astronomy. The mission of the AAS is to enhance and share humanity's scientific understanding of the universe.
A Possible Third Component in the L Dwarf Binary System DENIS-P J020529.0−115925 Discovered with theHubble Space Telescope
H. Bouy,E. L. Martín,W. Brandner, andJ. Bouvier
© 2005. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.
The Astronomical Journal,Volume 129,Number 1Citation H. Bouyet al 2005AJ129 511DOI 10.1086/426559
H. Bouy
AFFILIATIONS
Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Giessenbachstrasse 1, D-85748 Garching, Germany; and Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de l’Observatoire de Grenoble, 414 rue de la Piscine, F-38400 Saint Martin d’Hère, France
E. L. Martín
AFFILIATIONS
Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, E-38200 La Laguna, Spain; and Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, P.O. Box 162385, Orlando, FL 32816-2385
W. Brandner
AFFILIATIONS
Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Königstuhl 17, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany
J. Bouvier
AFFILIATIONS
Laboratoire d’Astrophysique, Observatoire de Grenoble, 414 rue de la Piscine, F-38400 Saint Martin d’Hère, France
Article metrics
650 Total downloads
0 Video abstract views
Permissions
Dates
- Received2004 June 7
- Accepted2004 October 7
Abstract
We present results showing that the multiple system DENIS-P J020529.0-115925 is likely to be a triple system of very low mass stars and brown dwarfs. The secondary of this previously known binary system shows a clear elongation on six images obtained at six different epochs. Significant residuals remain after point-spread function (PSF) subtraction on these images, which is characteristic of multiplicity and indicates that the secondary is probably a double itself. Dual-PSF fitting shows that the shape of the secondary is consistent with that of a binary system. These measurements show that the probability that DENIS-P J020529.0-115925 is a triple system is very high. The photometric and spectroscopic properties of the system are consistent with the presence of three components, with spectral types L5, L8, and T0.