Parallax Measurements Research Articles

An Absolute Mass, Precise Age, and Hints of Planetary Winds for WASP-121A and b from a JWST NIRSpec Phase Curve

We have conducted a planetary radial velocity measurement of the ultrahot Jupiter WASP-121b using JWST NIRSpec phase curve data. Our analysis reveals the Doppler shift of the planetary spectral lines across the full orbit, which shifts considerably across the detector (∼10 pixels). Using cross-correlation techniques, we have determined an overall planetary velocity amplitude of K p = 215.7 ± 1.1 km s−1, which is in good agreement with the expected value. We have also calculated the dynamical mass for both components of the system by treating it as an eclipsing double-line spectroscopic binary, with WASP-121A having a mass of M ⋆ = 1.330 ± 0.019 M ⊙, while WASP-121b has a mass of M p = 1.170 ± 0.043 M Jup. These dynamical measurements are ∼3× more precise than previous estimates and do not rely on any stellar modeling assumptions that have a ∼5% systematic floor mass uncertainty. Additionally, we used stellar evolution modeling constrained with a stellar density and parallax measurement to determine a precise age for the system, found to be 1.11 ± 0.14 Gyr. Finally, we observed potential velocity differences between the two NIRSpec detectors, with NRS1 lower by 5.5 ± 2.2 km s−1. We suggest that differences can arise from day/night asymmetries in the thermal emission, which can lead to a sensitivity bias favoring the illuminated side of the planet, with planetary rotation and winds both acting to lower a measured K P. The planet’s rotation can account for 1 km s−1 of the observed velocity difference, with 4.5 ± 2.2 km s−1 potentially attributable to vertical differences in wind speeds.

The Distance to Dobashi 6193—A Dark Cloud Shadowing the eROSITA Bubbles

We focus on a prominent gas cloud, Dobashi 6193, toward the western base of the northern eROSITA bubble (eRObub). It can potentially put a tight distance constraint on the eRObubs and clarify the emissions of the Loop I superbubble from the eRObubs. We found its distance to be 700 pc based on Gaia DR3 stellar extinction and parallax measurements, making it one of the most distant clouds shadowing the eRObubs well above the Galactic disk.

Distance and stellar parameter estimations of solar-like stars from the LAMOST spectroscopic survey

The Gaia mission has opened up a new era for the precise astrometry of stars, thus revolutionizing our understanding of the Milky Way. However, beyond a few kiloparseconds from the Sun, parallax measurements become less reliable, and even within 2 kpc, there still exist stars with large uncertainties. Our aim was to determine the distance and stellar parameters of 521,424 solar-like stars from LAMOST DR9; these stars lacked precise distance measurements (uncertainties higher than 20<!PCT!> or even without any distance estimations) when checked with Gaia. We proposed a convolutional neural network (CNN) model to predict the absolute magnitudes, colors, and stellar parameters ( and directly from low-resolution spectra. For spectra with signal-to-noise ratios at $g$ band ($ S/N_g $) greater than 10, the model achieves a precision of 85 K for 0.07 dex for 0.06 dex for 0.25 mag for and 0.03 mag for The estimated distances have a median fractional error of 4<!PCT!> with a standard deviation of 8<!PCT!>. We applied the trained CNN model to 521,424 solar-like stars to derive the distance and stellar parameters. Compared with other distance estimation studies and spectroscopic surveys, the results show good consistency. Additionally, we investigated the metallicity gradients of the Milky Way from a subsample, and find a radial gradient ranging from $-0.05 < R < 0.0\ dex\ $ and a vertical gradient ranging from $-0.26 < Z < -0.07\ dex\ We conclude that our method is effective in estimating distances and stellar parameters for solar-like stars with limited astrometric data. Our measurements are reliable for Galactic structure studies and hopefully will be useful for exoplanet researches.

Eight New Substellar Hyades Candidates from the UKIRT Hemisphere Survey

We have used the UKIRT Hemisphere Survey combined with the UKIDSS Galactic Cluster Survey, the UKIDSS Galactic Plane Survey, and the CatWISE2020 catalog to search for new substellar members of the nearest open cluster to the Sun, the Hyades. Eight new substellar Hyades candidate members were identified and observed with the Gemini/GNIRS near-infrared spectrograph. All eight objects are confirmed as brown dwarfs with spectral types ranging from L6 to T5, with two objects showing signs of spectral binarity and/or variability. A kinematic analysis demonstrates that all eight new discoveries likely belong to the Hyades cluster, with future radial velocity and parallax measurements needed to confirm their membership. CWISE J042356.23+130414.3, with a spectral type of T5, would be the coldest (T eff ≈ 1100 K) and lowest-mass (M ≈ 30 M Jup) free-floating member of the Hyades yet discovered. We further find that high-probability substellar Hyades members from this work and previous studies have redder near-infrared colors than field-age brown dwarfs, potentially due to lower surface gravities and supersolar metallicities.

Mapping the Milky Way in 5D with 170 Million Stars

We present Augustus, a catalog of distance, extinction, and stellar parameter estimates for 170 million stars from 14 mag < r < 20 mag and with ∣b∣ > 10° drawing on a combination of optical to near-infrared photometry from Pan-STARRS, 2MASS, UKIDSS, and unWISE along with parallax measurements from Gaia DR2 and 3D dust extinction maps. After applying quality cuts, we find 125 million objects have “high-quality” posteriors with statistical distance uncertainties of ≲10% for objects with well-constrained stellar types. This is a substantial improvement over the distance estimates derived from Gaia parallaxes alone and in line with the recent results from Anders et al. We find the fits are able to reproduce the dereddened Gaia color–magnitude diagram accurately, which serves as a useful consistency check of our results. We show that we are able to detect large, kinematically coherent substructures in our data clearly relative to the input priors, including the Monoceros Ring and the Sagittarius Stream, attesting to the quality of the catalog. Our results are publicly available at doi:10.7910/DVN/WYMSXV. An accompanying interactive visualization can be found at http://allsky.s3-website.us-east-2.amazonaws.com.

Discovery of the Remarkably Red L/T Transition Object VHS J183135.58-551355.9

We present the discovery of VHS J183135.58−551355.9 (hereafter VHS J1831−5513), an L/T transition dwarf identified as a result of its unusually red near-infrared colors (J − K S = 3.633 ± 0.277 mag; J − W2 = 6.249 ± 0.245 mag) from the VISTA Hemisphere Survey and CatWISE2020 surveys. We obtain low-resolution near-infrared spectroscopy of VHS J1831−5513 using the Magellan Folded port InfraRed Echellette spectrograph to confirm its extremely red nature and assess features sensitive to surface gravity (i.e., youth). Its near-infrared spectrum shows multiple CH4 absorption features, indicating an exceptionally low effective temperature for its spectral type. Based on proper-motion measurements from CatWISE2020 and a photometric distance derived from its K s -band magnitude, we find that VHS J1831−5513 is a likely (∼85% probability) kinematic member of the β Pictoris moving group. Future radial velocity and trigonometric parallax measurements will clarify such membership. Follow-up mid-infrared or higher-resolution near-infrared spectroscopy of this object will allow for further investigation as to the cause(s) of its redness, such as youth, clouds, and viewing geometry.

Distance Estimate Method for Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars Using Infrared Spectral Energy Distributions

We present a method to estimate distances to asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars in the Galaxy, using spectral energy distributions (SEDs) in the near- and mid-infrared. By assuming that a given set of source properties (initial mass, stellar temperature, composition, and evolutionary stage) will provide a typical SED shape and brightness, sources are color matched to a distance-calibrated template and thereafter scaled to extract the distance. The method is tested by comparing the distances obtained to those estimated from very long baseline interferometry or Gaia parallax measurements, yielding a strong correlation in both cases. Additional templates are formed by constructing a source sample likely to be close to the Galactic center, and thus with a common, typical distance for calibration of the templates. These first results provide statistical distance estimates to a set of almost 15,000 Milky Way AGB stars belonging to the Bulge Asymmetries and Dynamical Evolution (BAaDE) survey, with typical distance errors of ±35%. With these statistical distances, a map of the intermediate-age population of stars traced by AGBs is formed, and a clear bar structure can be discerned, consistent with the previously reported inclination angle of 30° to the GC–Sun direction vector. These results motivate deeper studies of the AGB population to tease out the intermediate-age stellar distribution throughout the Galaxy, as well as determining statistical properties of the AGB population luminosity and mass-loss-rate distributions.

Do We Finally Know all Stellar and Substellar Neighbors within 10 pc of the Sun?

Our knowledge on the closest solar neighbors gradually improved over a long time with the help of new methods and the recognition of new stellar and substellar species. The latest burst of discoveries since 1997, in which the first author participated, seemingly filled the gap of missing systems within 10 pc from the Sun. However, previous estimates of the population relied on two assumptions: that the sample was complete within 5 pc and that the density was uniform out to 10 pc. The first of these is not true, and the second in question. Otherwise, up to about 90 systems could be still missing within 10 pc. We find no indication for missing brown dwarfs within 10 pc, but strongly increasing deficits from early-M to late-M dwarfs hint at some still hidden late-M dwarf neighbors. They may have already been detected by Gaia but published so far without or with incorrect parallax measurements, because of close companions or their location in the Galactic plane.

A Close Binary Lens Revealed by the Microlensing Event Gaia20bof

During the last 25 yr, hundreds of binary stars and planets have been discovered toward the Galactic bulge by microlensing surveys. Thanks to a new generation of large-sky surveys, it is now possible to regularly detect microlensing events across the entire sky. The OMEGA Key Projet at the Las Cumbres Observatory carries out automated follow-up observations of microlensing events alerted by these surveys with the aim of identifying and characterizing exoplanets as well as stellar remnants. In this study, we present the analysis of the binary lens event Gaia20bof. By automatically requesting additional observations, the OMEGA Key Project obtained dense time coverage of an anomaly near the peak of the event, allowing characterization of the lensing system. The observed anomaly in the lightcurve is due to a binary lens. However, several models can explain the observations. Spectroscopic observations indicate that the source is located at ≤2.0 kpc, in agreement with the parallax measurements from Gaia. While the models are currently degenerate, future observations, especially the Gaia astrometric time series as well as high-resolution imaging, will provide extra constraints to distinguish between them.

Ultracool Dwarf Absolute Magnitude Versus Spectral Type Relations for Euclid and Roman Near-infrared Filters

We synthesize Euclid Near Infrared Spectrometer and Photometer photometry for the Y E J E H E filters and Roman Wide Field Instrument photometry for the F106, F129, F146, F158, F184 and F213 filters using SpeX prism spectra and parallaxes of 688 field-age and 151 young (≲200 Myr) ultracool dwarfs (spectral types M6–T9). For the above filters, we derive empirical absolute magnitude-spectral type polynomial relations that enable the calculation of photometric distances for ultracool dwarfs to be observed with Euclid and Roman, in the absence of parallax measurements. The synthesized photometry can also be used to generate color–color figures to distinguish high-redshift galaxies from brown dwarf interlopers.

On the Structure of the Sagittarius Spiral Arm in the Inner Milky Way

We report measurements of trigonometric parallax and proper motion for two 6.7 GHz methanol and two 22 GHz water masers located in the far portion of the Sagittarius spiral arm as part of the BeSSeL Survey. Distances for these sources are estimated from parallax measurements combined with three-dimensional kinematic distances. The distances of G033.64−00.22, G035.57−00.03, G041.15−00.20, and G043.89−00.78 are 9.9 ± 0.5, 10.2 ± 0.6, 7.6 ± 0.5, and 7.5 ± 0.3 kpc, respectively. Based on these measurements, we suggest that the Sagittarius arm segment beyond about 8 kpc from the Sun in the first Galactic quadrant should be adjusted radially outward relative to previous models. This supports the suggestion of Xu et al. that the Sagittarius and Perseus spiral arms might merge in the first quadrant before spiraling inward to the far end of the Galactic bar.

Discovery of a hot post-AGB star in Galactic globular cluster E3

We report a new hot post-asymptotic giant branch (PAGB) star in the Galactic globular cluster (GC) E3, which is one of the first of the identified PAGB stars in a GC to show a binary signature. The star stands out as the brightest source in E3 in the Astrosat/UVIT images. We confirmed its membership with the cluster E3 using Gaia DR3 kinematics and parallax measurements. We supplemented the photometric observations with radial velocities (RVs) from high-resolution spectroscopic observations at two epochs and with ground- and space-based photometric observations from 0.13 μm to 22 μm. We find that the RVs vary over ∼6 km s−1 between the two epochs. This is an indication of the star being in a binary orbit. A simulation of possible binary systems with the observed RVs suggests a binary period of either 39.12 days or 17.83 days with mass ratio q ≥ 1.0. The [Fe/H] derived using the high-resolution spectra is ∼−0.7 dex, which closely matches the cluster metallicity. The spectroscopic and photometric measurements suggest Teff and logg of the star as 17 500 ± 1000 K and 2.37 ± 0.20 dex, respectively. Various PAGB evolutionary tracks on the Hertzsprung–Russell (H–R) diagram suggest a current mass of the star in the range 0.51–0.55 M⊙. The star is enriched with C and O abundances, showing similar CNO abundances compared to the other PAGB stars in GCs with the evidence of the third dredge-up on the AGB phase.

Synthetic Gaia DR3 Surveys from the FIRE Cosmological Simulations of Milky Way-mass Galaxies

The third data release (DR3) of Gaia has provided a fivefold increase in the number of radial velocity measurements of stars, as well as a stark improvement in parallax and proper motion measurements. To help with studies that seek to test models and interpret Gaia DR3, we present nine Gaia synthetic surveys, based on three solar positions in three Milky Way-mass galaxies of the Latte suite of the Fire-2 cosmological simulations. These synthetic surveys match the selection function, radial velocity measurements, and photometry of Gaia DR3, adapting the code base Ananke, previously used to match the Gaia DR2 release by Sanderson et al. The synthetic surveys are publicly available and can be found at http://ananke.hub.yt/. Similarly to the previous release of Ananke, these surveys are based on cosmological simulations and thus are able to model nonequilibrium dynamical effects, making them a useful tool in testing and interpreting Gaia DR3.

Gaia21blx: Complete resolution of a binary microlensing event in the Galactic disk

Gravitational microlensing is a method that is used to discover planet-hosting systems at distances of several kiloparsec in the Galactic disk and bulge. We present the analysis of a microlensing event reported by the Gaia photometric alert team that might have a bright lens. In order to infer the mass and distance to the lensing system, the parallax measurement at the position of Gaia21blx was used. In this particular case, the source and the lens have comparable magnitudes and we cannot attribute the parallax measured by Gaia to the lens or source alone. Since the blending flux is important, we assumed that the Gaia parallax is the flux-weighted average of the parallaxes of the lens and source. Combining this assumption with the information from the microlensing models and the finite source effects we were able to resolve all degeneracies and thus obtained the mass, distance, luminosities and projected kinematics of the binary lens and the source. According to the best model, the lens is a binary system at $2.18 0.07$ kpc from Earth. It is composed of a G star with $0.95 odot $ and a K star with $0.53 odot $. The source is likely to be an F subgiant star at $2.38 1.71$ kpc with a mass of $1.10 odot $. Both lenses and the source follow the kinematics of the thin-disk population. We also discuss alternative models, that are disfavored by the data or by prior expectations, however.

WTP 10aaauow: discovery of a new FU Ori outburst towards the RCW 49 star-forming region in NEOWISE data

ABSTRACT Large-amplitude accretion outbursts in young stars are expected to play a central role in protostellar assembly. Outburst identification historically has taken place using optical techniques, but recent, systematic infrared searches are enabling their discovery in heavily dust-obscured regions of the Galactic plane. Here, we present the discovery of Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer transient pipeline (WTP) 10aaauow, a large-amplitude mid-infrared (MIR) outburst identified in a systematic search of NEOWISE data using new image subtraction techniques. The source is located towards the RCW 49 star-forming region, and estimated to be at a distance of ≈4 kpc via Gaia parallax measurement. Concurrent with the MIR brightening, the source underwent a ≳5 mag outburst in the optical and near-infrared (NIR) bands, reaching a peak luminosity of ≈260 L⊙ in 2014–2015, followed by a slow decline over the next 7 yr. Analysis of the pre- and post-outburst spectral energy distributions reveals a pre-outburst stellar photosphere at a temperature of 3600–4000 K, surrounded by a likely two-component dust structure similar to a flat-spectrum or Class I type young stellar object. We present optical and NIR spectroscopy that shows a GK-type spectrum in the optical bands exhibiting complex line profiles in strong absorption features, and evidence for a wind reaching a terminal velocity of ≈400 km s−1. The NIR bands are characterized by a cooler M-type spectrum exhibiting a forest of atomic and molecular features. Alltogether, the spectra demonstrate that WTP 10aaauow is an FU Ori type outburst. Ongoing systematic infrared searches will continue to reveal the extent of this population in the Galactic disc.

A 500 pc volume-limited sample of hot subluminous stars. I. Space density, scale height, and population properties

We present the first volume-limited sample of spectroscopically confirmed hot subluminous stars out to 500 pc, defined using the accurate parallax measurements from the Gaia space mission data release 3 (DR3). The sample comprises a total of 397 members, with 305 ($ 77&lt;!PCT!&gt;$) identified as hot subdwarf stars, including 83 newly discovered systems. Of these, we observe that 178 ($ are hydrogen-rich sdBs, 65 are sdOBs ($ 21&lt;!PCT!&gt;$), 32 are sdOs ($ 11&lt;!PCT!&gt;$), and 30 are He-sdO/Bs ($ 10&lt;!PCT!&gt;$). Among them, 48 ($ 16&lt;!PCT!&gt;$) exhibit an infrared excess in their spectral energy distribution fits, suggesting a composite binary system. The hot subdwarf population is estimated to be 90&lt;!PCT!&gt; complete, assuming that most missing systems are these composite binaries located within the main sequence (MS) in the Gaia colour-magnitude diagram (CMD). The remaining sources in the sample include cataclysmic variables (CVs), blue horizontal branch stars (BHBs), hot white dwarfs (WDs), and MS stars. We derived the mid-plane density $ $ and scale height $ h z $ for the non-composite hot subdwarf star population using a hyperbolic sechant profile (sech$^2$). The best-fit values are $ $ stars/pc3 and $ h z 62$ pc. When accounting for the composite-colour hot subdwarfs and their estimated completeness, the mid-plane density increases to $ $ stars/pc3. This corrected space density is an order of magnitude lower than predicted by population synthesis studies, supporting previous observational estimates.

Gaia FGK benchmark stars: Fundamental Teff and log g of the third version

Context. Large spectroscopic surveys devoted to the study of the Milky Way, including Gaia, use automated pipelines to determine the atmospheric parameters of millions of stars. The Gaia FGK benchmark stars are reference stars with Teff and log 𝑔 derived through fundamental relations, independently of spectroscopy, to be used as anchors for the parameter scale. The first and second versions of the sample have been extensively used for that purpose, and more generally to help constrain stellar models. Aims. We provide the third version of the Gaia FGK benchmark stars, an extended set intended to improve the calibration of spectroscopic surveys, and their interconnection. Methods. We have compiled about 200 candidates that have precise measurements of angular diameters and parallaxes. We determined their bolometric fluxes by fitting their spectral energy distribution. Masses were determined using two sets of stellar evolution models. In a companion paper, we describe the determination of metallicities and detailed abundances. Results. We provide a new set of 192 Gaia FGK benchmark stars with their fundamental Teff and log 𝑔, and with uncertainties lower than 2% for most stars. Compared to the previous versions, the homogeneity and accuracy of the fundamental parameters are significantly improved thanks to the high quality of the Gaia photometric and astrometric data.

Systematic KMTNet Planetary Anomaly Search. X. Complete Sample of 2017 Prime-field Planets

We complete the analysis of planetary candidates found by the KMT AnomalyFinder for the 2017 prime fields that cover ∼13 deg2. We report three unambiguous planets: OGLE-2017-BLG-0640, OGLE-2017-BLG-1275, and OGLE-2017-BLG-1237. The first two of these were not previously identified, while the last was not previously published due to technical complications induced by a nearby variable. We further report that a fourth anomalous event, the previously recognized OGLE-2017-BLG-1777, is very likely to be planetary, although its light curve requires unusually complex modeling because the lens and source both have orbiting companions. One of the three unambiguous planets, OGLE-2017-BLG-1275, is the first AnomalyFinder discovery that has a Spitzer microlens parallax measurement, π E ≃ 0.045 ± 0.015, implying that this planetary system almost certainly lies in the Galactic bulge. In the order listed, the four planetary events have planet-host mass ratios q and normalized projected separations s of (logq,s)=(−2.31,0.61) , (−2.06, 0.63/1.09), (−2.10, 1.04), and (−2.86, 0.72). Combined with previously published events, the 2017 prime fields contain 11 unambiguous planets with well-measured q and one very likely candidate, of which three are AnomalyFinder discoveries. In addition to these 12, there are three other unambiguous planets with large uncertainties in q.

TWO TOOLS FOR ESTIMATING STAR CLUSTER PARAMETERS

A star cluster is a composition of stars held together by the overall gravitational field of the whole cluster. The stars of a given cluster are born in a giant molecular cloud and, as such, can be regarded as objects with almost equal ages. Furthermore, assuming that the initial material in the cloud is perfectly mixed, we may also say that the metallicity of all cluster members is the same. Four parameters (distance, extinction or reddening, age, and metallicity) are standardly used to describe star clusters. Their knowledge is essential for studying galaxies’ local and global properties (especially our own Galaxy). However, deriving these parameters may take time and effort. Thanks to the Gaia mission’s parallax measurements, we can determine the distances of stars (and clusters) within our Galaxy with unprecedented precision. Therefore, we can remove the distance from the list of free parameters. We developed two different tools for estimating cluster parameters: 1) Metalcode, an automatic tool focused on deriving metallicities of open clusters, and 2) Stellar Isochrone Fitting Tool (StIFT), a tool for fitting a grid of isochrones for any photometric system available. We present both tools in more detail.

On the Distances to the X-Ray Binaries Cygnus X-3 and GRS 1915+105

In this paper we significantly improve estimates of distance to the X-ray binary systems Cyg X-3 and GRS 1915+105. We report a highly accurate trigonometric parallax measurement for Cyg X-3 using the Very Long Baseline Array at 43 GHz, placing the source at a distance of kpc. We also use Galactic proper motions and line-of-sight radial velocity measurements to determine three-dimensional (3D) kinematic distances to both systems, under the assumption that they have low peculiar velocities. This yields distances of 8.95 ± 0.96 kpc for Cyg X-3 and 9.4 ± 0.6 (statistical) ± 0.8 (systematic) for GRS 1915+105. The good agreement between parallax and 3D kinematic distances validates the assumption of low peculiar velocities, and hence small natal kicks, for both of the systems. For a source with a low peculiar velocity, given its parallax distance, Cyg X-3 should have a V LSR near −64 ± 5 km s−1. Our measurements imply a slightly higher inclination angle, and hence lower black hole mass, for GRS 1915+105 than found from previous work by Reid et al. and strengthen arguments from X-ray polarization that Cyg X-3 would be an ultraluminous X-ray source if viewed face-on.