Discovery of the benchmark metal-poor T8 dwarf BD +01° 2920B

Abstract

We have searched the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer first data release for widely separated (≤10000au) late T dwarf companions to Hipparcos and Gliese stars. We have discovered a new binary system containing a K-band suppressed T8p dwarf WISEP J142320.86+011638.1 and the mildly metal poor ([Fe/H] =-0.38 ± 0.06) primary BD +01° 2920 (HIP 70319), a G1 dwarf at a distance of 17.2pc. This new benchmark has T eff= 680 ± 55K and a mass of 20-50M Jup. Its spectral properties are well modelled except for known discrepancies in the Y and K bands. Based on the well-determined metallicity of its companion, the properties of BD +01° 2920B imply that the currently known T dwarfs are dominated by young low-mass objects. We also present an accurate proper motion for the T8.5 dwarf WISEP J075003.84+272544.8. © 2012 The Authors Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society © 2012 RAS.