The Taurus Spitzer Survey: New Candidate Taurus Members Selected Using Sensitive Mid-Infrared Photometry

• Published in: arXiv.org 2009-11
• Main Authors: Rebull, L M, Padgett, D L, C -E McCabe, Hillenbrand, L A, Stapelfeldt, K R, Noriega-Crespo, A, Carey, S J, Brooke, T, Huard, T, Terebey, S, Audard, M, J -L Monin, Fukagawa, M, Guedel, M, Knapp, G R, Menard, F, Allen, L E, Angione, J R, Baldovin-Saavedra, C, Bouvier, J, Briggs, K, Dougados, C, Evans, N J, Flagey, N, Guieu, S, Grosso, N, Glauser, A M, Harvey, P, Hines, D, Latter, W B, Skinner, S L, Strom, S, Tromp, J, Wolf, S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Active galactic nuclei; Carbon stars; Cosmic dust; Filaments; Galactic evolution; Galaxies; Infrared photometry; M stars; Molecular clouds; Nebulae; Object recognition; Optical properties; Photometry; Planetary nebulae; Pre-main sequence stars; Space telescopes; Spectroscopy; Spectrum analysis; Star formation; Stellar evolution; X ray imagery
• ISSN: 2331-8422
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.0911.3176

We report on the properties of pre-main-sequence objects in the Taurus molecular clouds as observed in 7 mid- and far-infrared bands with the Spitzer Space Telescope. There are 215 previously-identified members of the Taurus star-forming region in our ~44 square degree map; these members exhibit a range of Spitzer colors that we take to define young stars still surrounded by circumstellar dust (noting that ~20% of the bonafide Taurus members exhibit no detectable dust excesses). We looked for new objects in the survey field with similar Spitzer properties, aided by extensive optical, X-ray, and ultraviolet imaging, and found 148 candidate new members of Taurus. We have obtained follow-up spectroscopy for about half the candidate sample, thus far confirming 34 new members, 3 probable new members, and 10 possible new members, an increase of 15-20% in Taurus members. Of the objects for which we have spectroscopy, 7 are now confirmed extragalactic objects, and one is a background Be star. The remaining 93 candidate objects await additional analysis and/or data to be confirmed or rejected as Taurus members. Most of the new members are Class II M stars and are located along the same cloud filaments as the previously-identified Taurus members. Among non-members with Spitzer colors similar to young, dusty stars are evolved Be stars, planetary nebulae, carbon stars, galaxies, and AGN.