Resolving the cold debris disc around a planet-hosting star. PACS photometric imaging observations of q1 Eridani (HD 10647, HR 506)
Journal article, 2010
Context. About two dozen exo-solar debris systems have been spatially resolved. These debris discs commonly display a variety of structural features such as clumps, rings, belts, excentric distributions and spiral patterns. In most cases, these features are believed to be formed, shaped and maintained by the dynamical influence of planets orbiting the host stars. In very few cases has the presence of the dynamically important planet(s) been inferred from direct observation. Aims. The solar-type star q(1) Eri is known to be surrounded by debris, extended on scales of less than or similar to 30 ''. The star is also known to host at least one planet, albeit on an orbit far too small to make it responsible for structures at distances of tens to hundreds of AU. The aim of the present investigation is twofold: to determine the optical and material properties of the debris and to infer the spatial distribution of the dust, which may hint at the presence of additional planets. Methods. The Photodetector Array Camera and Spectrometer (PACS) aboard the Herschel Space Observatory allows imaging observations in the far infrared at unprecedented resolution, i.e. at better than 6 '' to 12 '' over the wavelength range of 60 mu m to 210 mu m. Together with the results from ground-based observations, these spatially resolved data can be modelled to determine the nature of the debris and its evolution more reliably than what would be possible from unresolved data alone. Results. For the first time has the q(1) Eri disc been resolved at far infrared wavelengths. The PACS observations at 70 mu m, 100 mu m and 160 mu m reveal an oval image showing a disc-like structure in all bands, the size of which increases with wavelength. Assuming a circular shape yields the inclination of its equatorial plane with respect to that of the sky, i > 53 degrees. The results of image de-convolution indicate that i likely is larger than 63 degrees, where 90 degrees corresponds to an edge-on disc. Conclusions. The observed emission is thermal and optically thin. The resolved data are consistent with debris at temperatures below 30 K at radii larger than 120 AU. From image de-convolution, we find that q(1) Eri is surrounded by an about 40 AU wide ring at the radial distance of similar to 85 AU. This is the first real Edgeworth-Kuiper Belt analogue ever observed.
planetary
systems
stars: individual: q(1) Eri (HD 10647
spitzer
hst
HIP 7978)
stars: formation
belt
circumstellar matter
HR 506
Author
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Chalmers, Earth and Space Sciences, Radio Astronomy and Astrophysics
[Person 0c00d6b1-308d-4056-8979-9ba2756b8d47 not found]
Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (UAM)
[Person 8fa72c93-d44b-4aa9-afe8-0a993640862e not found]
Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (UAM)
Max Planck Society
Johns Hopkins University
[Person 372c8d42-2521-43f0-a790-0778bcd86ab2 not found]
Grenoble Alpes University
[Person 46a2940a-e479-41f5-9925-acf1c6640625 not found]
AlbaNova University Center
[Person 7f5c77bc-dbe5-43f9-abcf-e9bd3e51fc3d not found]
European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC)
[Person b7bccc82-33d7-449c-89e6-c7a833d62a01 not found]
Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (UAM)
[Person 9d97015e-8789-4262-b3e2-c5f5251c19ff not found]
Centro de Astrobiologia (CAB)
[Person d73d07ff-8554-42da-8ca3-cca4f4d3f96d not found]
European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC)
Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (UAM)
[Person 1b8e70a1-2a73-495f-9395-61978203ca31 not found]
University of Liège
[Person eea87078-37bc-4dbf-9e66-d0920d0ed2a1 not found]
Spitzer Science Center
[Person 8466223f-b731-4b71-b45c-1693f06d5d9c not found]
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Calar Alto Astronomical Observatory
Centro de Astrobiologia (CAB)
[Person cded1f62-f4e3-4990-a801-5abca209189c not found]
Centro de Astrobiologia (CAB)
European Southern Observatory Santiago
[Person f1e5eb29-24bf-40ca-9aa2-d063313d8753 not found]
UNINOVA-CA3
[Person f749f17a-23a6-40a1-986c-bbd18a574b6c not found]
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
[Person 6998029f-21f6-462d-a6b7-f7672fbec902 not found]
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
[Person 93f94443-cbc9-42af-bc94-c0c69bba3c84 not found]
UNINOVA-CA3
[Person f1b06e82-0d5e-44b6-accc-6d97c0b0c977 not found]
University of Kiel
[Person 072a6cf2-f5e9-4eb2-8e5e-6d1b6036599e not found]
European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESA ESTEC)
[Person 26465e54-1607-456f-978a-ad68ea438b8f not found]
European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESA ESTEC)
[Person 4465c9fe-602a-495f-99e6-84a9c313dfb6 not found]
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
[Person 3d5abbe9-99ab-406c-bb61-a72d84db28d5 not found]
Max Planck Society
[Person 1d63803f-4f82-4cb8-a72f-1a08babdb4f6 not found]
Grenoble Alpes University
[Person 8cf705c1-e364-4972-ad8c-7619726768b3 not found]
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
[Person 1d6a560e-dabb-424f-8700-521ef7867242 not found]
Open University
[Person 3cdde638-eb5f-4050-8903-f858f9b39c95 not found]
Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (UAM)
[Person b9928955-f4a2-4667-aa6b-eccfc0c80404 not found]
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
[Person bea50852-d1cd-4b46-a65c-f9db488cdb70 not found]
European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESA ESTEC)
[Person 83167c77-3e52-4416-90be-bd4d08a9759c not found]
UNINOVA-CA3
[Person eb726b5f-3df3-4e31-a76e-8100e7943d86 not found]
Materials Space Evaluation and Radiation Effects Section
[Person 5f4c4baf-c611-4172-8a8c-6faea3400e8a not found]
Centro de Astrobiologia (CAB)
[Person d9495fef-e155-4202-b977-ffd38e2e2faf not found]
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
[Person 12dfa16d-f035-4056-a532-189d435da64e not found]
Observatoire de Paris-Meudon
[Person 696ba049-2834-4ff7-858e-8ddf8e1c4628 not found]
STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Open University
[Person b51328df-4e83-4288-b3e5-30b24ef3d04f not found]
University of Kiel
Astronomy and Astrophysics
0004-6361 (ISSN) 1432-0746 (eISSN)
Vol. 518 Article Number: L132 L132Subject Categories (SSIF 2011)
Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology
DOI
10.1051/0004-6361/201014601