Spitzer Space Telescope - General Observer Proposal #60046


A Survey for Wide Substellar Companions in the Solar Neighborhood

Principal Investigator: Kevin Luhman
           Institution: Pennsylvania State University

     Technical Contact: Kevin Luhman, Pennsylvania State University

Co-Investigators: 
John Stauffer, Spitzer Science Center                                 
Giovanni Fazio, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory                 
Joseph Hora, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory                    

Science Category: brown dwarfs/very low mass stars 
 Observing Modes: IRAC Post-Cryo Mapping
  Hours Approved: 37.8 

Abstract:
We propose to obtain IRAC images of 328 stars, brown dwarfs, and white dwarfs in
the solar neighborhood that have been observed previously with IRAC. By
combining the data at these two epochs, we will search for wide (>100 AU)
substellar companions through their common proper motions with the primaries.
The detection limits will reach up to 100 times fainter than the faintest known
T dwarfs. These observations will comprise the deepest survey for wide
companions to nearby stars that is possible with any current or planned
telescope, providing the best available opportunity for finding brown dwarfs
cooler than known T dwarfs, such as the as-of-yet-undiscovered Y dwarfs.