Ned-allsky

The Circumstellar Disk of HD 141569 Imaged with NICMOS

November 1999 • 1999ApJ...525L..53W

Authors • Weinberger, A. J. • Becklin, E. E. • Schneider, G. • Smith, B. A. • Lowrance, P. J. • Silverstone, M. D. • Zuckerman, B. • Terrile, R. J.

Abstract • Coronagraphic imaging with the Near-Infrared Camera and Multiobject Spectrometer on the Hubble Space Telescope reveals a large, ~400 AU (4") radius, circumstellar disk around the Herbig Ae/Be star HD 141569. A reflected light image at 1.1 μm shows the disk oriented at a position angle of 356deg+/-5deg and inclined to our line of sight by 51deg+/-3deg the intrinsic scattering function of the dust in the disk makes the side inclined toward us, the eastern side, brighter. The disk flux density peaks 185 AU (1.85") from the star and falls off to both larger and smaller radii. A region of depleted material, or a gap, in the disk is centered 250 AU from the star. The dynamical effect of one or more planets may be necessary to explain this morphology.

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Patrick Lowrance

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