ZTF J0139+5245
ZTF J0139+5245 (also known as J0139 and ZTF J013906.17+524536.89) is a white dwarf star approximately 564 light-years (172.9 pc) from Earth in the constellation of Perseus.[1][2] It is the second white dwarf, after WD 1145+017, to be observed with transits indicative of orbiting planetary material. The star has been found to display deep, irregularly shaped transits suggestive of disrupted planetary debris.[1] Two transits have been observed in the 210-day-long Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) light curve of the star, each transit about 25 days long and producing 30−45% dips in brightness. The two transits are about 110 days apart, substantially longer than the short 4.5 hour orbital period seen with WD1145+017.[1] Based on the two observed transits from the Zwicky Transient Facility, the next observable transit may occur around 15 October 2019. Follow up observations of the star using the Las Cumbres Observatory (LCO) global telescope network have been formally requested by the research team.[3]
Context star field of ZTF J013906.17+524536.89 | |
Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 | |
---|---|
Constellation | Perseus[1][1][2] |
Right ascension | 01h 39m 06.17s[1] (24.77571) |
Declination | +52° 45′ 36.89″[1] (52.76025) |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 18.4[1] |
Characteristics | |
Spectral type | DA[1] |
Astrometry | |
Distance | 564[1] ly (172.9 ± 7.4[1] pc) |
Details | |
Mass | 0.52[1] M☉ |
Temperature | 10,530 ± 140[1] K |
Other designations | |
J0139; ZTF J013906.17+524536.89 | |
Database references |
Stellar characteristics
The white dwarf has a mass of 0.54 M☉, a temperature of 10,530 ± 140 K and a log (g) of 7.86 ± 0.06.[1]
The apparent magnitude of the star, or how bright it appears from Earth's perspective, is about 18.4.[1] Therefore, it is too dim to be seen with the naked eye.
The star has been found to display deep, irregularly shaped transits suggestive of disrupted planetary debris.[1]
Planetary system
Companion (in order from star) |
Mass | Semimajor axis (AU) |
Orbital period (days) |
Eccentricity | Inclination | Radius |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
b | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Dusty disk | AU | — | — |
The supposed planetesimal, ZTF J0139+5245 b, is presumably being ripped apart by the star.[1]
References
- Vanderbosch, Z.; Hermes, J. J.; Dennihy, E.; Dunlap, B. H.; Izquierdo, P.; Tremblay, P. E.; Cho, P. B.; Gaensicke, B. T.; Bell, K. J.; Montgomery, M. H.; Winget, D. E. (2019). "A White Dwarf with Transiting Circumstellar Material Far Outside Its Tidal Disruption Radius". arXiv:1908.09839v1 [astro-ph.SR].
- Staff (2 August 2008). "Finding the constellation which contains given sky coordinates". DJM.cc. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
- Staff (2019). "LC Observation Portal - University of Texas at Austin - Vanderbosch, Z." Las Campanas Observatory. Retrieved 30 August 2019.