Habitable Worlds Around M Dwarf Stars: The CAPSCam Astrometric Planet Search. Issue Volume 8:Issue S293(2012) (29th April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Boss, Alan P.; Weinberger, Alycia J.; Anglada-Escudé, Guillem; Thompson, Ian B.; Brahm, Rafael
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union. Volume 8:Issue S293(2012)
• Page Start: 183
• Page End: 188
• Publication Date: 2014-04-29
• Subjects: astrometry, -- planetary systems, -- planetary systems: formation, -- stars: low-mass, -- brown dwarfs; Astronomy -- Congresses; Astronomy -- Periodicals; 520
• DOI: 10.1017/S1743921313012799
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-9213

Abstract

Abstract: M dwarf stars are attractive targets in the search for habitable worlds as a result of their relative abundance and proximity, making them likely targets for future direct detection efforts. Hot super-Earths as well as gas giants have already been detected around a number of early M dwarfs, and the former appear to be the high-mass end of the population of rocky, terrestrial exoplanets. The Carnegie Astrometric Planet Search (CAPS) program has been underway since March 2007, searching ~ 100 nearby late M, L, and T dwarfs for gas giant planets on orbits wide enough for habitable worlds to orbit interior to them. The CAPSCam-N camera on the 2.5-m du Pont telescope at the Las Campanas Observatory has demonstrated the ability to detect planets as low in mass as Saturn orbiting at several AU around late M dwarfs within 15 pc. Over the next decade, the CAPS program will provide new constraints on the planetary census around late M dwarf stars, and hence on the suitability of these nearby planetary systems for supporting life.