2M1207

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2M1207
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0
Constellation Hydra
Right ascension 12h 07m 33.4s
Declination -39° 32' 54"
Apparent magnitude (V) 13
Distance 173 ly
(53 pc)
Spectral type M8V
Other designations
2MASSW J1207334-393254

2M1207, 2M1207A or 2MASSW J1207334-393254 is a brown dwarf star located in the constellation Hydra; a companion object, 2M1207b, is believed to be one of the first extrasolar planets to be directly imaged, and is the first exoplanet to be discovered in orbit of a brown dwarf.

Located at right ascension 12hr 7min 33.4sec, and declination -39° 32′ 54″ (J2000.0 celestial coordinates), 2M1207 was discovered during the course of the 2MASS infrared sky survey: hence the "2M" in its name, followed by its celestial coordinates. It is roughly 53 parsecs away; with a fairly early (for a brown dwarf) spectral type of M8, it is very young, and a likely member of the TW Hydrae association. Its estimated mass is around 21 Jupiter masses.

In December 2005, American astronomer Eric Mamajek reported a more accurate distance to 2M1207 using the moving cluster method. The new distance (revised downwards from 70 parsecs) results in a fainter luminosity for 2M1207A, and its mass was revised downwards from an original value of 25 Jupiter masses.

[edit] 2M1207b

Main article: 2M1207b
2M1207b
Extrasolar planet Lists of extrasolar planets
Observed position
Observed separation (d) 41 ± 5 AU
Physical characteristics
Mass (m) 3.3+1.5-1.0 MJ
Radius (r) 1.5 RJ
Density (ρ)  ? kg/m3
Temperature (T) 1250 ± 200 K
Discovery information
Discovery date 2004
Discoverer(s) Chauvin et al.
Detection method Imaged
Discovery status Confirmed
European Southern Observatory infrared image of 2M1207 (blueish) and companion planet 2M1207b (reddish), taken in 2004.
Enlarge
European Southern Observatory infrared image of 2M1207 (blueish) and companion planet 2M1207b (reddish), taken in 2004.

2M1207b is a planetary mass companion to 2M1207 detected in 2004 by imaging. It is approximately 5.1125694 × 10^9 miles away from its star, 2M1207.

[edit] References