A Proper Motion Survey Using the First Sky Pass of NEOWISE-reactivation Data

February 2016 • 2016ApJ...817..112S

Authors • Schneider, Adam C. • Greco, Jennifer • Cushing, Michael C. • Kirkpatrick, J. Davy • Mainzer, Amy • Gelino, Christopher R. • Fajardo-Acosta, Sergio B. • Bauer, James

Abstract • The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) was reactivated in 2013 December (NEOWISE) to search for potentially hazardous near-Earth objects. We have conducted a survey using the first sky pass of NEOWISE data and the AllWISE catalog to identify nearby stars and brown dwarfs with large proper motions ({μ }_{{total}} ≳ 250 mas yr^-1). A total of 20,548 high proper motion objects were identified, 1006 of which are new discoveries. This survey has uncovered a significantly larger sample of fainter objects (W2 ≳ 13 mag) than the previous WISE motion surveys of Luhman and Kirkpatrick et al. Many of these objects are predicted to be new L and T dwarfs based on near- and mid-infrared colors. Using estimated spectral types along with distance estimates, we have identified several objects that likely belong to the nearby solar neighborhood (d < 25 pc). We have followed up 19 of these new discoveries with near-infrared or optical spectroscopy, focusing on potentially nearby objects, objects with the latest predicted spectral types, and potential late-type subdwarfs. This subset includes six M dwarfs, five of which are likely subdwarfs, as well as eight L dwarfs and five T dwarfs, many of which have blue near-infrared colors. As an additional supplement, we provide 2MASS and AllWISE positions and photometry for every object found in our search, as well as 2MASS/AllWISE calculated proper motions.

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IPAC Authors
(alphabetical)

Chris Gelino

Associate Scientist

Davy Kirkpatrick

Senior Scientist