KEPLER MONITORING OF AN L DWARF. II. CLOUDS WITH MULTI-YEAR LIFETIMES

ABSTRACT We present Kepler, Spitzer Space Telescope, Gemini-North, MMT, and Kitt Peak observations of the L1 dwarf WISEP J190648.47+401106.8. We find that the Kepler optical light curve is consistent in phase and amplitude over nearly two years of monitoring, with a peak-to-peak amplitude of 1.4%. S...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Astrophysical journal 2015-11, Vol.813 (2), p.104
Main Authors: Gizis, John E., Dettman, Kyle G., Burgasser, Adam J., Camnasio, Sara, Alam, Munazza, Filippazzo, Joseph C., Cruz, Kelle L., Metchev, Stanimir, Berger, Edo, Williams, Peter K. G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amplitudes
Arrays
ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
Brown dwarf stars
brown dwarfs
Clouds
Coolers
COSMIC DUST
DWARF STARS
EMISSION
Light curve
Monitoring
SPACE
stars: activity
stars: atmospheres
stars: individual (WISEP J190648.47+401106.8)
STARSPOTS
STELLAR ATMOSPHERES
TELESCOPES
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:ABSTRACT We present Kepler, Spitzer Space Telescope, Gemini-North, MMT, and Kitt Peak observations of the L1 dwarf WISEP J190648.47+401106.8. We find that the Kepler optical light curve is consistent in phase and amplitude over nearly two years of monitoring, with a peak-to-peak amplitude of 1.4%. Spitzer Infrared Array Camera 3.6 m observations are in phase with Kepler, with similar light curve shapes and peak-to-peak amplitudes of 1.1%, but at 4.5 m, the variability has an amplitude of %. Chromospheric H emission is variable but not synced with the stable Kepler light curve. A single dark spot can reproduce the light curve but is not a unique solution. An inhomogeneous cloud deck, specifically a region of thick cloud cover, can explain the multi-wavelength data of this ultracool dwarf and need not be coupled with the asynchronous magnetic emission variations. The long life of the cloud is in contrast with weather changes seen in cooler brown dwarfs on the timescale of hours and days.
ISSN:0004-637X
1538-4357
1538-4357
DOI:10.1088/0004-637X/813/2/104