The Environment of the Optically Brightest Herbig Ae Star, HD 104237

• Published in: The Astrophysical journal 2004-06, Vol.608 (2), p.809-830
• Main Authors: Grady, C. A, Woodgate, B, Torres, Carlos A. O, Henning, Th, Apai, D, Rodmann, J, Wang, Hongchi, Stecklum, B, Linz, H, Williger, G. M, Brown, A, Wilkinson, E, Harper, G. M, Herczeg, G. J, Danks, A, Vieira, G. L, Malumuth, E, Collins, N. R, Hill, R. S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Astronomy; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Extrasolar planetary systems; Infrared excess; debris disks; protoplanetary disks; exo-zodiacal dust; Interstellar medium (ism) and nebulae in milky way; Jets, outflows, and bipolar flows; Pre-main sequence objects, young stellar objects (yso's) and protostars (t tauri stars, orion population, herbig-haro objects, bok globules, bipolar outflows, cometary nebulae, etc.); Stars; Stellar systems. Galactic and extragalactic objects and systems. The universe
• ISSN: 0004-637X; 1538-4357
• DOI: 10.1086/420763

We investigate the environment of the nearest Herbig Ae star, HD 104237, with a multiwavelength combination of optical coronagraphic, near-IR, and mid-IR imaging supported by optical, UV, and far-ultraviolet spectroscopy. We confirm the presence of T Tauri stars associated with the Herbig Ae star HD 104237, noted by Feigelson et al. We find that two of the stars within 15[arc sec] of HD 104237 have IR excesses, potentially indicating the presence of circumstellar disks, in addition to the Herbig Ae star itself. We derive a new spectral type of A7.5Ve-A8Ve for HD 104237 and find log(L/L sub(o)) = 1.39. With these data, HD 104237 has an age of t ~ 5 Myr, in agreement with the estimates for the other members of the association. HD 104237 is still actively accreting, with a conspicuous UV/far-UV excess seen down to 1040 Aa, and is driving a bipolar microjet termed HH 669. This makes it the second, older Herbig Ae star now known to have a microjet. The presence of the microjet enables us to constrain the circumstellar disk to r < 0!!6 (70 AU) with an inclination angle of i = 18[image] from pole-on. The absence of a spatially extended continuum and fluorescent H sub(2) emission near Lyalpha is in agreement with the prediction of shadowed disk models for the IR spectral energy distribution. With the high spatial density of disks in this group of stars, proximity, and minimal reddening, HD 104237 and its companions should serve as ideal laboratories for probing the comparative evolution of planetary systems.