CFBDSIR 2149−0403

Last updated
CFBDSIR J214947.2-040308.9
Free-floating planet CFBDSIR J214947.2-040308.9.jpg
The small blue dot (click to enlarge) in the center of this infrared image from the New Technology Telescope is CFBDSIR J214947.2-040308.9.
Discovery [1]
Discovered by
  • Philippe Delorme
  • Jonathan Gagné
  • Lison Malo
  • Céline Reylé
  • Étienne Artigau
  • Loïc Albert
  • Thierry Forveille
  • Xavier Delfosse
  • France Allard
  • Derek Homeier
Discovery date2012
Direct imaging
Physical characteristics [2]
1.07 or 0.811–1.271  RJ
Mass 2–40  MJ
log g = 3.5 –4.5 cgs
Temperature 775 K
(500 °C)
Spectral type
 T7 [1]

    CFBDSIR 2149-0403 (full designation CFBDSIR J214947.2-040308.9) is a free-floating planetary-mass object or possibly a high-metallicity, low-mass brown dwarf in the constellation Aquarius. [2] Originally, it was thought to be part of the AB Doradus moving group (ABDMG) as indicated by its position and proper motion, [1] [3] but the same team that discovered the object and conjectured its membership in the group has now rejected that hypothesis due to newer measurements. Without that membership, the age and mass of the object cannot be constrained. [2]

    Contents

    Discovery

    CFBDSIR 2149-0403 was discovered by the Canada-France Brown Dwarfs Survey, a near-infrared sky survey, and confirmed by WISE data. [1] Philippe Delorme, of the Institute of Planetology and Astrophysics of Grenoble in France and his team, including researchers at Université de Montréal in Canada, detected CFBDSIR2149's infrared signature using the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. They then examined the body's properties with the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile.

    Distance

    If this object is actually a rogue planet (which has not been decisively demonstrated), then it is among the closest that has ever been spotted. [4] An estimate assuming it to be part of the AB Doradus moving group would result in a distance of 40±4  parsecs (130±13  light-years ) from Earth. [1]

    In 2016, a parallax measurement of CFBDSIR 2149-0403 resulted in a distance of 54.6±5.4 parsecs (178±18 light-years). [2]

    Age and characteristics

    In the discovery paper, CFBDSIR 2149-0403 was claimed to possibly be a kinematic member of the AB Doradus moving group (ABDMG). The ABDMG appears to be similar in age to the Pleiades, [5] which has a lithium-depletion boundary age of 130±20 Myr. [6] If so, this object would be likely a free-floating planet with a mass lower than the limit for deuterium burning (roughly 13 MJ). [1]

    However, a subsequent analysis by the discoverers ruled out the possibility that it is part of this moving group (and other moving groups). Therefore, there is no way to constrain its mass and status unless assuming age values; estimates are either under 500 million years as a rogue planet with mass between 2 and 13 Jupiter masses, or else a two- to three-billion-year-old brown dwarf with mass between 2 and 40 Jupiter masses. The object shows signs of low gravity (brighter K band in the near-infrared), which could be attributable to youth. [2]

    Spectroscopic observations give CBFDSIR 1428+10 a spectral type of T7, classifying it as a late T dwarf. [1]

    Atmosphere

    This video shows an artist's impression of the free-floating planet CFBDSIR J214947.2-040308.9.

    Spectroscopy observations have found light absorption by gaseous methane and water in the object's atmosphere. [1]

    See also

    Further reading

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Delorme, Philippe; Gagné, Jonathan; Malo, Lison; Reylé, Céline; Artigau, Étienne; Albert, Loïc; Forveille, Thierry; Delfosse, Xavier; Allard, France; Homeier, Derek (December 2012). "CFBDSIR2149-0403: a 4-7 Jupiter-mass free-floating planet in the young moving group AB Doradus ?". Astronomy & Astrophysics . 548: A26. arXiv: 1210.0305 . Bibcode:2012A&A...548A..26D. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201219984. S2CID   50935950.
    2. 1 2 3 4 5 Delorme, P.; Dupuy, T.; Gagné, J.; Reylé, C.; Forveille, T.; Liu, M. C.; Artigau, E.; Albert, L.; Delfosse, X.; Allard, F.; Homeier, D.; Malo, L.; Morley, C.; Naud, M. E.; Bonnefoy, M. (2017-06-01). "CFBDSIR 2149-0403: young isolated planetary-mass object or high-metallicity low-mass brown dwarf?". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 602: A82. arXiv: 1703.00843 . doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201629633. ISSN   0004-6361.
    3. ↑ "'Rogue planet' spotted 100 light-years away". Science & Environment. BBC News. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
    4. ↑ "Astronomers find 'homeless' planet wandering through space". Phys.org. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
    5. ↑ Luhman, K.L.; Stauffer, J.R; Mamajek, E.E. (2005). "The Age of AB Doradus". Astrophysical Journal . 628 (1): L69 –L72. arXiv: astro-ph/0510665 . Bibcode:2005ApJ...628L..69L. doi:10.1086/432617. S2CID   10101115.
    6. ↑ Barrado y Navascues, David; Stauffer, John R; Jayawardhana, Ray (2004). "Spectroscopy of Very Low Mass Stars and Brown Dwarfs in IC 2391: Lithium Depletion and Hα Emission". Astrophysical Journal . 614 (1): 386–397. arXiv: astro-ph/0406436 . Bibcode:2004ApJ...614..386B. doi:10.1086/423485. S2CID   208867491.
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