Limits on the Optical Brightness of the Epsilon Eridani Dust Ring

Details Limits on the Optical Brightness of the Epsilon Eridani Dust Ring Limits on the Optical Brightness of the Epsilon Eridani Dust Ring

2004-05-17

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0405319v2

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Revision corrects author list

Scientific paper

10.1086/422549

The STIS/CCD camera on the {\em Hubble Space Telescope (HST)} was used to take deep optical images near the K2V main-sequence star $\epsilon$ Eridani in an attempt to find an optical counterpart of the dust ring previously imaged by sub-mm observations. Upper limits for the optical brightness of the dust ring are determined and discussed in the context of the scattered starlight expected from plausible dust models. We find that, even if the dust is smoothly distributed in symmetrical rings, the optical surface brightness of the dust, as measured with the {\em HST}/STIS CCD clear aperture at 55 AU from the star, cannot be brighter than about 25 STMAG/"$^2$. This upper limit excludes some solid grain models for the dust ring that can fit the IR and sub-mm data. Magnitudes and positions for $\approx $59 discrete objects between 12.5" to 58" from $\epsilon$ Eri are reported. Most if not all of these objects are likely to be background stars and galaxies.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Limits on the Optical Brightness of the Epsilon Eridani Dust Ring does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Limits on the Optical Brightness of the Epsilon Eridani Dust Ring, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Limits on the Optical Brightness of the Epsilon Eridani Dust Ring will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-284427