The beta Pictoris moving group

Citation
B. Zuckerman et al., The beta Pictoris moving group, ASTROPHYS J, 562(1), 2001, pp. L87-L90
Citations number
37
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Space Sciences
Journal title
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
ISSN journal
0004-637X → ACNP
Volume
562
Issue
1
Year of publication
2001
Part
2
Pages
L87 - L90
Database
ISI
SICI code
0004-637X(20011120)562:1<L87:TBPMG>2.0.ZU;2-3
Abstract
Following the 1983 IRAS detection and subsequent imaging of its extensive d usty circumstellar disk, beta Pictoris became the prototypical and most stu died example of a potential forming planetary system. Here we report the id entification of 17 star systems, each with one or more characteristics indi cative of extreme youth, that are moving through space together with beta P ic. This diverse set of similar to 12 million yr old star systems, which in cludes a similar to 35 Jupiter mass brown dwarf, and a wide assortment of d usty circumstellar disks, is the comoving, youthful group closest to Earth. Their unique combination of youth and proximity to Earth makes group membe rs-many of which have masses similar to that of the Sun-prime candidates fo r imaging of warm planets and dusty circumstellar disks with ground- and sp ace-based telescopes.