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

February 2010 • 2010ApJS..186..259R

Authors • Rebull, L. M. • Padgett, D. L. • McCabe, C. -E. • Hillenbrand, L. A. • Stapelfeldt, K. R. • Noriega-Crespo, A. • Carey, S. J. • Brooke, T. • Huard, T. • Terebey, S. • Audard, M. • Monin, J. -L. • Fukagawa, M. • Güdel, 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.

Abstract • We report on the properties of pre-main-sequence objects in the Taurus molecular clouds as observed in seven 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 deg² 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 bona fide 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 new candidate members of Taurus. We have obtained follow-up spectroscopy for about half the candidate sample, thus far confirming 34 new members, three probable new members, and 10 possible new members, an increase of 15%-20% in Taurus members. Of the objects for which we have spectroscopy, seven 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 active galactic nuclei.

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IPAC Authors
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Sean Carey

Senior Scientist

Luisa Rebull

Senior Research Scientist