Astronomy:EPIC 204376071

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Short description: Star noted for unusual dimming events
EPIC 204376071
NASA-Wise-EPIC204376071-ScrnImg-20190306.jpg
Context star field of EPIC 204376071
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0   Equinox (celestial coordinates)
Constellation Scorpius
Right ascension  16h 04m 10.1267s[1]
Declination −22° 34′ 45.5503″[1]
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage M[2]
Astrometry
Proper motion (μ) RA: -11.544[1] mas/yr
Dec.: -24.892[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)7.3908 ± 0.1944[1] mas
Distance440 ± 10 ly
(135 ± 4 pc)
Details
Mass0.161±0.028[2][3] M☉
Radius0.631±0.042[3] R☉
Luminosity (bolometric)0.0273±0.0020[2] L☉
Temperature2960±75[2] K
Rotation1.63 days[4]
Age10[5] Myr
Other designations
UScoCTIO 48, 2MASS J16041012-2234453[1]
Database references
SIMBADdata

EPIC 204376071 is an M-type star in the constellation of Scorpius. Parallax measurements by the Gaia space observatory put the star at a distance of about 440 light-years (130 parsecs) from Earth.[2][3][5] It is likely a member of the Upper Sco association, and is young enough that it has not yet become a main-sequence star.[2]

Unusual light fluctuations of the star, including up to an 80% dimming in brightness (i.e., "single 80% deep occultation of 1-day duration"), were observed by astronomers.[3][5] The unusual dimming was not only extremely deep, but also substantially asymmetric, with an egress about twice as long as the ingress.[4] Nonetheless, such an unusual dimming for EPIC 204376071 is much greater than the 22% dimming observed for Tabby's star.[6][7] Several explanations have been presented to explain the unusual dimming of the EPIC 204376071 star: one, orbiting dust or small particles; or two, a "transient accretion event of dusty material near the corotation radius of the star".[3] The unusual lightcurve of the star is similar to the lightcurve of a candidate exoplanet, KIC 10403228 b, which may have been caused by a "tilted ring system" orbiting the planet. In the case of EPIC 204376071, an orbiting brown dwarf or large planet, with a ring system, could cause a similar lightcurve, according to the researchers.[5]

Artist's concept of dust or small particles orbiting a star.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Staff (2019). "EPIC 204376071 -- Star in Association". SIMBAD. http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=EPIC%20204376071. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Rappaport, S. (22 February 2019). "Deep Long Asymmetric Occultation in EPIC 204376071". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 485 (2): 2681–2693. doi:10.1093/mnras/stz537. Bibcode: 2019MNRAS.485.2681R. http://orbit.dtu.dk/files/169254901/stz537.pdf. Retrieved 6 March 2019. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Rappaport, S. (22 February 2019). "Deep Long Asymmetric Occultation in EPIC 204376071". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 485 (2): 2681–2693. doi:10.1093/mnras/stz537. Bibcode: 2019MNRAS.485.2681R. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Nowakowski, Tomasz (5 March 2019). "Astronomers detect deep, long asymmetric occultation in a newly found low-mass star". Phys.org. https://phys.org/news/2019-03-astronomers-deep-asymmetric-occultation-newly.html. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Starr, Michelle (6 March 2019). "Astronomers Have Discovered Another Mysterious Dimming Star, And It's Even More Epic". ScienceAlert.com. https://www.sciencealert.com/tabby-s-star-has-a-friend-there-s-another-weird-mystery-star-in-town. 
  6. ↑ Carpineti, Alfredo (6 March 2019). "We've Just Found Another Mysteriously Dimming Star In The Galaxy". IFLScience.com. https://www.iflscience.com/space/weve-just-found-another-mysteriously-dimming-star-in-the-galaxy/. 
  7. ↑ Valdez, Rubi (8 March 2019). "Another Dimming EPIC Star Is Likely An Alien Planet, Astronomers Say". Tech Times. https://www.techtimes.com/articles/239240/20190308/another-dimming-epic-star-is-likely-an-alien-planet-astronomers-say.htm. 

External links

Coordinates: Sky map 16h 04m 10.1267s, −22° 34′ 45.5503″



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