An Enigmatic Point-like Feature within the HD 169142 Transitional Disk
Abstract
We report the detection of a faint point-like feature possibly related to ongoing planet-formation in the disk of the transition disk star HD 169142. The point-like feature has a Δmag(L) ~ 6.4, at a separation of ~0.''11 and position angle ~0°. Given its lack of an H or KS counterpart despite its relative brightness, this candidate cannot be explained by purely photospheric emission and must be a disk feature heated by an as yet unknown source. Its extremely red colors make it highly unlikely to be a background object, but future multi-wavelength follow up is necessary for confirmation and characterization of this feature.
Based on observations made with ESO Telescopes at the La Silla Paranal Observatory under program ID 091.C-0572. This Letter includes data gathered with the 6.5 Magellan Telescopes located at Las Campanas Observatory (LCO), Chile.- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- September 2014
- DOI:
- 10.1088/2041-8205/792/1/L22
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1408.0794
- Bibcode:
- 2014ApJ...792L..22B
- Keywords:
-
- planets and satellites: detection;
- planets and satellites: formation;
- planets and satellites: gaseous planets;
- protoplanetary disks;
- Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics;
- Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- Accepted to ApJ Letters, see also Reggiani et al. 2014