The gemini NICI planet-finding campaign: Discovery of a multiple system orbiting the young A star HD1160

Eric L. Nielsen, Michael C. Liu, Zahed Wahhaj, Beth A. Biller, Thomas L. Hayward, Alan Boss, Brendan Bowler, Adam Kraus, Evgenya L. Shkolnik, Matthias Tecza, Mark Chun, Fraser Clarke, Laird M. Close, Christ Ftaclas, Markus Hartung, Jared R. Males, I. Neill Reid, Andrew J. Skemer, Silvia H.P. Alencar, Adam S. BurrowsElisabethe De Gouveia Dal Pino, Jane Gregorio-Hetem, Marc Kuchner, Niranjan Thatte, Douglas W. Toomey

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

51 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report the discovery of two low-mass companions to the young A0V star HD1160 at projected separations of 81 ± 5AU (HD1160B) and 533 ± 25AU (HD1160C) by the Gemini NICI Planet-Finding Campaign. Very Large Telescope images of the system taken over a decade for the purpose of using HD1160A as a photometric calibrator confirm that both companions are physically associated. By comparing the system to members of young moving groups and open clusters with well-established ages, we estimate an age of 50+50 -40Myr for HD1160 ABC. While the UVW motion of the system does not match any known moving group, the small magnitude of the space velocity is consistent with youth. Near-IR spectroscopy shows HD1160C to be an M3.5 ± 0.5 star with an estimated mass of 0.22+0.03 -0.04 M, while NIR photometry of HD1160B suggests a brown dwarf with a mass of 33 +12 -9 M Jup. The very small mass ratio (0.014) between the A and B components of the system is rare for A star binaries, and would represent a planetary-mass companion were HD1160A to be slightly less massive than the Sun.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number53
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume750
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2012

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

Keywords

  • brown dwarfs
  • instrumentation: adaptive optics
  • planetary systems
  • planets and satellites: detection
  • stars: individual (HD 1160)

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