AU Microscopii

AU Microscopii

AU Microscopii, J band image, 2MASS.
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Microscopium
Right ascension 20h 45m 09.53147s[1]
Declination –31° 20′ 27.2425″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 8.73[2]
Characteristics
Spectral type M1 Ve[2]
U−B color index 1.01
B−V color index 1.45
Variable type Flare star
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)–6.0[2] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +279.96[1] mas/yr
Dec.: -360.61[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)100.91 ± 1.06[1] mas
Distance32.3 ± 0.3 ly
(9.9 ± 0.1 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)8.61
Details
Mass0.31[3] M☉
Radius0.84[3] R☉
Luminosity0.09[3] L☉
Temperature3,500 ± 100[3] K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)9.3[2] km/s
Age12 ± 2[3] Myr
Other designations
CD -31°17815, GCTP 4939.00, GJ 803, HD 197481, HIP 102409, LTT 8214, SAO 212402, Vys 824, LDS 720 A.
Database references
SIMBADdata
ARICNSdata

AU Microscopii (AU Mic) is a small star located 32.3 light-years (9.9 parsecs) away – about 8 times as far as the closest star after the Sun.[4] The apparent visual magnitude of AU Microscopii is 8.73,[2] which is too dim to be seen with the naked eye. It was given this designation because it is in the southern constellation Microscopium and is a variable star. Like β Pictoris, AU Microscopii has a circumstellar disk of dust known as a debris disk.

Stellar properties

AU Mic is a young star at only 12 million years old; less than 1% of the age of the Sun.[5] With a stellar classification of M1 Ve,[2] it is red dwarf star[6] with a physical radius of 60% that of the Sun. Despite being more than half the Sun's mass,[7][8] it is radiating only 9%[3] as much luminosity as the Sun. This energy is being emitted from the star's outer atmosphere at an effective temperature of 3,730 K,[9] giving it the cool orange-red hued glow of an M-type star.[10] AU Microscopii is a member of the β Pictoris moving group.[11][12] AU Microscopii may be gravitationally bound to the binary star system AT Microscopii.[13]

AU Microscopii has been observed in every part of the electromagnetic spectrum from radio to X-ray and is known to undergo flaring activity at all these wavelengths.[14][15][16][17] Its flaring behaviour was first identified in 1973.[18][19] Underlying these random outbreaks is a nearly sinusoidal variation in its brightness with a period of 4.865 days. The amplitude of this variation changes slowly with time. The V band brightness variation was approximately 0.3 magnitudes in 1971; by 1980 it was merely 0.1 magnitudes.[20]

Debris disk

Hubble Space Telescope image of the debris disk around AU Microscopii.
This short time lapse sequence shows images of the debris disc.

AU Microscopii harbors its own disk of dust, first resolved at optical wavelengths in 2003 by Paul Kalas and collaborators using the University of Hawaii 2.2-m telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii.[4] This large debris disk faces the earth edge-on,[21] and measures at least 200 AU in radius. At these large distances from the star, the lifetime of dust in the disk exceeds the age of AU Microscopii.[4] The disk has a gas to dust mass ratio of no more than 6:1, much lower than the usually assumed primordial value of 100:1.[22] The debris disk is therefore referred to as "gas-poor". The total amount of dust visible in the disk is estimated to be at least a lunar mass, while the larger planetesimals from which the dust is produced are inferred to have at least six lunar masses.[23]

The spectral energy distribution of AU Microscopii's debris disk at submillimetre wavelengths indicate the presence of an inner hole in the disk extending to 17 AU,[24] while scattered light images estimate the inner hole to be 12 AU in radius.[25] Combining the spectral energy distribution with the surface brightness profile yields a smaller estimate of the radius of the inner hole, 1 - 10 AU.[26]

The inner part of the disk is asymmetric and shows structure in the inner 40 AU.[27] The inner structure has been compared with that expected to be seen if the disk is influenced by larger bodies or has undergone recent planet formation.[27]

The presence of the inner hole and asymmetric structure has led a number of astronomers to search for planets orbiting AU Microscopii. By 2007, no searches had led to any detections of planets.[26][28]

The surface brightness (brightness per area) of the disk in the near infrared as a function of projected distance from the star follows a characteristic shape. The inner of the disk appear approximately constant in density and the brightness is unchanging, more-or-less flat.[25] Around the density and surface brightness begins to decrease: first it decreases slowly in proportion to distance as ; then outside , the density and brightness drops much more steeply, as .[25] This "broken power-law" shape is similar to the shape of the profile of β Pic's disk.

In October 2015 it was reported that astronomers using the Very Large Telescope (VLT) had detected very unusual outward-moving features in the disk. By comparing the VLT images with those taken by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2010 and 2011 it was found that the wave-like structures are moving away from the star at speeds of up to 10 kilometers per second (22,000 miles per hour). The waves farther away from the star seem to be moving faster than those close to it, and at least three of the features are moving fast enough to escape the gravitational pull of the star.[29]

The AU Microscopii planetary system
Companion
(in order from star)		 Mass Semimajor axis
(AU)		 Orbital period
(days)		 Eccentricity Inclination Radius
Dust disk <50–>150 AU — —

Methods of observation

Artist's impression of AU Microscopii Credit: NASA/ESA/G. Bacon (STScI)

AU Mic's disk has been observed at a variety of different wavelengths, giving humans different types of information about the system. The light from the disk observed at optical wavelengths is stellar light that has reflected (scattered) off dust particles into Earth's line of sight. Observations at these wavelengths utilize a coronagraphic spot to block the bright light coming directly from the star. Such observations provide high-resolution images of the disk. Because light having a wavelength longer than the size of a dust grain is scattered only poorly, comparing images at different wavelengths (visible and near-infrared, for example) gives humans information about the sizes of the dust grains in the disk.[30]

Optical observations have been made with the Hubble Space Telescope and Keck Telescopes. The system has also been observed at infrared and sub-millimeter wavelengths. This light is emitted directly by dust grains as a result of their internal heat (modified blackbody radiation). The disk cannot be resolved at these wavelengths, so such observations are measurements of the amount of light coming from the entire system. Observations at increasingly longer wavelengths give information about dust particles of larger sizes and at larger distances from the star. These observations have been made with the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope and Spitzer Space Telescope.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 van Leeuwen, F. (November 2007), "Validation of the new Hipparcos reduction", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 474 (2): 653–664, arXiv:0708.1752Freely accessible, Bibcode:2007A&A...474..653V, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20078357
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Torres, C. A. O.; et al. (December 2006), "Search for associations containing young stars (SACY). I. Sample and searching method", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 460 (3): 695–708, arXiv:astro-ph/0609258Freely accessible, Bibcode:2006A&A...460..695T, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20065602
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Plavchan, Peter; et al. (June 2009), "New Debris Disks Around Young, Low-Mass Stars Discovered with the Spitzer Space Telescope", The Astrophysical Journal, 698 (2): 1068–1094, arXiv:0904.0819Freely accessible, Bibcode:2009ApJ...698.1068P, doi:10.1088/0004-637X/698/2/1068
  4. 1 2 3 Kalas, Paul; Liu, Michael C.; Matthews, Brenda C. (26 March 2004). "Discovery of a Large Dust Disk Around the Nearby Star AU Microscopii". Science. 303 (5666): 1990–1992. arXiv:astro-ph/0403132Freely accessible. Bibcode:2004Sci...303.1990K. doi:10.1126/science.1093420. PMID 14988511.
  5. ↑ Plavchan, Peter; Jura, M.; Lipsc, S. J. (October 1, 2005). "Where Are the M Dwarf Disks Older Than 10 Million Years?". The Astrophysical Journal. 631 (2): 1161–1169. arXiv:astro-ph/0506132Freely accessible. Bibcode:2005ApJ...631.1161P. doi:10.1086/432568.
  6. ↑ Maran, S. P.; et al. (September 1991). "An Investigation of the Flare Star AU Mic with the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope". Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society. 23: 1382. Bibcode:1991BAAS...23.1382M.
  7. ↑ Del Zanna, G.; Landini, M.; Mason, H. E. (April 2002). "Spectroscopic diagnostics of stellar transition regions and coronae in the XUV: AU Mic in quiescence". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 385 (3): 968–985. Bibcode:2002A&A...385..968D. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20020164.
  8. ↑ Mouillet, David (26 March 2004). "Nearby Planetary Disks". Science. 303 (5666): 1982–1983. doi:10.1126/science.1095851. PMID 15044792.
  9. ↑ Linsky, J. L.; et al. (15 September 1982). "Outer atmospheres of cool stars. XII - A survey of IUE ultraviolet emission line spectra of cool dwarf stars". The Astrophysical Journal. 260 (1): 670–694. Bibcode:1982ApJ...260..670L. doi:10.1086/160288.
  10. ↑ "The Colour of Stars", Australia Telescope, Outreach and Education, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, December 21, 2004, retrieved 2012-01-16
  11. ↑ Zuckerman, B.; Song, Inseok (September 2004). "Young Stars Near the Sun". Annual Review of Astronomy & Astrophysics. 42 (1): 685–721. Bibcode:2004ARA&A..42..685Z. doi:10.1146/annurev.astro.42.053102.134111.
  12. ↑ Barrado y Navascués, David; et al. (August 1, 1999). "The age of beta Pictoris". The Astrophysical Journal. 520 (2): L123–L126. arXiv:astro-ph/9905242Freely accessible. Bibcode:1999ApJ...520L.123B. doi:10.1086/312162.
  13. ↑ Monsignori Fossi, B. C.; et al. (October 1995). "The EUV spectrum of AT Microscopii". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 302: 193. Bibcode:1995A&A...302..193M.
  14. ↑ Maran, S. P.; et al. (1 February 1994). "Observing stellar coronae with the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph. 1: The dMe star AU microscopoii". The Astrophysical Journal. 421 (2): 800–808. Bibcode:1994ApJ...421..800M. doi:10.1086/173692.
  15. ↑ Cully, Scott L.; et al. (September 10, 1993). "Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer deep survey observations of a large flare on AU Microscopii". The Astrophysical Journal. 414 (2): L49–L52. Bibcode:1993ApJ...414L..49C. doi:10.1086/186993.
  16. ↑ Kundu, M. R.; et al. (15 January 1987). "Microwave observations of the flare stars UV Ceti, AT Microscopii, and AU Microscopii". The Astrophysical Journal. 312: 822–829. Bibcode:1987ApJ...312..822K. doi:10.1086/164928.
  17. ↑ Tsikoudi, V.; Kellett, B. J. (December 2000). "ROSAT All-Sky Survey X-ray and EUV observations of YY Gem and AU Mic". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 319 (4): 1147–1153. Bibcode:2000MNRAS.319.1147T. doi:10.1046/j.1365-8711.2000.03905.x.
  18. ↑ Kunkel, W. E. (1973). "Activity in Flare Stars in the Solar Neighborhood". The Astrophysical Journal Supplement. 25: 1. Bibcode:1973ApJS...25....1K. doi:10.1086/190263.
  19. ↑ Butler, C. J.; et al. (December 1981). "Ultraviolet spectra of dwarf solar neighbourhood stars. I". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 197: 815–827. Bibcode:1981MNRAS.197..815B. doi:10.1093/mnras/197.3.815.
  20. ↑ Butler, C. J.; et al. (March 1987). "Rotational modulation and flares on RS CVn and BY DRA systems. II - IUE observations of BY Draconis and AU Microscopii". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 174 (1–2): 139–157. Bibcode:1987A&A...174..139B.
  21. ↑ Paul Kalas, James R. Graham and Mark Clampin (23 June 2005). "A planetary system as the origin of structure in Fomalhaut's dust belt". Nature. 435 (7045): 1067–1070. arXiv:astro-ph/0506574Freely accessible. Bibcode:2005Natur.435.1067K. doi:10.1038/nature03601. PMID 15973402.
  22. ↑ Aki Roberge; Alycia J. Weinberger; Seth Redfield & Paul D. Feldman (20 June 2005). "Rapid Dissipation of Primordial Gas from the AU Microscopii Debris Disk". The Astrophysical Journal. 626 (2): L105–L108. arXiv:astro-ph/0505302Freely accessible. Bibcode:2005ApJ...626L.105R. doi:10.1086/431899.
  23. ↑ C. H. Chen; B. M. Patten; M. W. Werner; C. D. Dowell; K. R. Stapelfeldt; I. Song; J. R. Stauffer; M. Blaylock; K. D. Gordon & V. Krause (December 1, 2005). "A Spitzer Study of Dusty Disks around Nearby, Young Stars". The Astrophysical Journal. 634 (2): 1372–1384. Bibcode:2005ApJ...634.1372C. doi:10.1086/497124.
  24. ↑ Michael C. Liu; Brenda C. Matthews; Jonathan P. Williams & Paul G. Kalas (June 10, 2004). "A Submillimeter Search of Nearby Young Stars for Cold Dust: Discovery of Debris Disks around Two Low-Mass Stars". The Astrophysical Journal. 608 (1): 526–532. arXiv:astro-ph/0403131Freely accessible. Bibcode:2004ApJ...608..526L. doi:10.1086/392531.
  25. 1 2 3 John E. Kirst; D. R. Ardila; D. A. Golimowski; M. Clampin; H. C. Ford; G. D. Illingworth; G. F. Hartig; F. Bartko; N. Benítez; J. P. Blakeslee; R. J. Bouwens; L. D. Bradley; T. J. Broadhurst; R. A. Brown; C. J. Burrows; E. S. Cheng; N. J. G. Cross; R. Demarco; P. D. Feldman; M. Franx; T. Goto; C. Gronwall; B. Holden; N. Homeier; L. Infante; R. A. Kimble; M. P. Lesser; A. R. Martel; S. Mei; F. Mennanteau; G. R. Meurer; G. K. Miley; V. Motta; M. Postman; P. Rosati; M. Sirianni; W. B. Sparks; H. D. Tran; Z. I. Tsvetanov; R. L. White & W. Zheng (February 2005). "Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys Coronagraphic Imaging of the AU Microscopii Debris Disk". The Astronomical Journal. 129 (2): 1008–1017. Bibcode:2005AJ....129.1008K. doi:10.1086/426755.
  26. 1 2 Stanimir A. Metchev; Joshua A. Eisner & Lynne A. Hillenbrand (March 20, 2005). "Adaptive Optics Imaging of the AU Microscopii Circumstellar Disk: Evidence for Dynamical Evolution". The Astrophysical Journal. 622 (1): 451–462. arXiv:astro-ph/0412143Freely accessible. Bibcode:2005ApJ...622..451M. doi:10.1086/427869.
  27. 1 2 Michael C. Liu (3 September 2004). "Substructure in the Circumstellar Disk Around the Young Star AU Microscopii". Science. 305 (5689): 1442–1444. arXiv:astro-ph/0408164Freely accessible. Bibcode:2004Sci...305.1442L. doi:10.1126/science.1102929. PMID 15308766.
  28. ↑ E. Masciadri; R. Mundt; Th. Henning & C. Alvarez (1 June 2005). "A Search for Hot Massive Extrasolar Planets around Nearby Young Stars with the Adaptive Optics System NACO". The Astrophysical Journal. 625 (2): 1004–1018. arXiv:astro-ph/0502376Freely accessible. Bibcode:2005ApJ...625.1004M. doi:10.1086/429687.
  29. ↑ "Mysterious Ripples Found Racing Through Planet-Forming Disk". Hubblesite. Archived from the original on 8 October 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  30. ↑ Sanders, Robert (2007-01-08). "Dust around nearby star like powder snow". UC Berkeley News. Archived from the original on 15 January 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-11.

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