The Y dwarf population with <i>HST</i>: unlocking the secrets of our coolest neighbours – I. Overview and first astrometric results
C. Fontanive, L. R. Bedin, Daniella C. Bardalez Gagliuffi
Abstract
ABSTRACT In this paper, we present our project that aims at determining accurate distances and proper motions for the Y brown dwarf population using the Hubble Space Telescope. We validate the program with our first results, using a single new epoch of observations of the Y0pec dwarf WISE J163940.83−684738.6. These new data allowed us to refine its proper motion and improve the accuracy of its parallax by a factor of three compared to previous determinations, now constrained to ϖ = 211.11 ± 0.56 mas. This newly derived absolute parallax corresponds to a distance of 4.737 ± 0.013 pc, an exquisite and unprecedented precision for faint ultracool Y dwarfs.
Topics & Concepts
ParallaxPhysicsProper motionBrown dwarfAstrometryPopulationHubble space telescopeAstrophysicsEpoch (astronomy)AstronomyStarsDemographySociologyStellar, planetary, and galactic studiesAstronomy and Astrophysical ResearchGamma-ray bursts and supernovae