THE DEBRIS DISK AROUND HR 8799
- Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, 933 N Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85721 (United States)
- JPL/Caltech, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109 (United States)
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721 (United States)
- Department of Astrophysical Science, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544 (United States)
We have obtained a full suite of Spitzer observations to characterize the debris disk around HR 8799 and to explore how its properties are related to the recently discovered set of three massive planets orbiting the star. We distinguish three components to the debris system: (1) warm dust (T approx 150 K) orbiting within the innermost planet; (2) a broad zone of cold dust (T approx 45 K) with a sharp inner edge orbiting just outside the outermost planet and presumably sculpted by it; and (3) a dramatic halo of small grains originating in the cold dust component. The high level of dynamical activity implied by this halo may arise due to enhanced gravitational stirring by the massive planets. The relatively young age of HR 8799 places it in an important early stage of development and may provide some help in understanding the interaction of planets and planetary debris, an important process in the evolution of our own solar system.
- OSTI ID:
- 21378401
- Journal Information:
- Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 705, Issue 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/705/1/314; ISSN 0004-637X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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