Abstract

Abstract As a step toward completing and characterizing the census of the solar neighborhood, we present astrometric, photometric, and spectroscopic observations of 32 systems observed with the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory 0.9 m and 1.5 m telescopes. Astrometry from the 0.9 m indicates that among the 17 systems that had no previous published trigonometric parallaxes, 14 are within 25 pc. In the full sample, nine systems have proper motions larger than 0.″5 yr−1, including 2MASS J02511490-0352459, which exceeds 2.″0 yr−1. VRI photometry from the 0.9 m and optical spectra from the 1.5 m indicate that the targets have V = 11–22 mag and spectral types M3.0V–L3.0V. For 2MASS J23062928-0502285 (TRAPPIST-1), we present updated astrometry and photometric variability based on over 12 years of observations. Of the nine binaries in the sample, two promise mass determinations in the next decade: LHS 6167AB, an M4.5V system for which we present an accurate parallax placing the binary at 9.7 pc, and 2MASS J23515048-2537367AB, an M8.5V system at 21.1 pc for which we present the first evidence of an unseen, low-mass companion. Most importantly, Na i and K i gravity indicators, Hα measurements, long-term photometric variability, locations on the H-R diagram, and kinematic assessments indicate that as many as 13 of the systems are young, including candidate members of young moving groups, with ages less than ∼120 Myr.

Highlights

  • A well-understood, volume-limited sample of stellar systems is an essential input to determine the stellar luminosity and mass functions, the stellar velocity distribution, and the stellar multiplicity fraction

  • Columns 4–9 provide the observational details: filter used, number of seasons observed, number of frames used in reductions, dates of observations, time span, and number of pretrfige,remn,ceposstiatriso.nTahneglreel(aPti.vAe.)ptorifg,μp,aaranldlatxhecodrerericvteiodn,taanbgseonltuiatel velocity appear in columns 10–15

  • The positions in columns 2 and 3 are based on 2MASS positions adjusted to epoch 2000.0 using the relative μ and position angles listed in columns 13 and 14

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Summary

Introduction

A well-understood, volume-limited sample of stellar systems is an essential input to determine the stellar luminosity and mass functions, the stellar velocity distribution, and the stellar multiplicity fraction These physical relationships describe the makeup of our Galaxy, and by extension more distant galaxies, models are being developed from an incomplete catalog with limited parameters. The nearby stars are the brightest and easiest to examine from the Earth, allowing their characteristics to be studied in detail and allowing the detection of subtle differences among similar stars

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