Intermediate Mass Stars in W5: New Evidence for Planet Formation
Abstract
We present a study of >500 A and B type stars in the W5 massive star forming region (age 2 to 5 Myr) with combined 2MASS, Spitzer IRAC and MIPS SEDs. We find 55 examples of A and B stars with disks. Of these, 8 have SEDs similar to HAeBe stars with optically thick accretion disks. We also find 15 SEDs that suggest the presence of an optically thick outer and optically thin inner disk. By analogy with solar-like stars with similar SEDs, these may be objects in which Jovian mass objects are formed (for A stars, at a distance of 10-20 AU). The possibility of planet formation around intermediate mass stars could open a new window on the study of extrasolar planets. We discuss this possibility, along with other mechanisms that could account for the variety of SED morphologies that we observe in this region.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #215
- Pub Date:
- January 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010AAS...21534602K