Nearby M, L, and T Dwarfs Discovered by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE)

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery and characterization of 42 low-mass stars and brown dwarfs, including new spectral types and peculiar objects, identified by WISE, enhancing the census of nearby low-mass objects.

Contribution

It presents new discoveries of low-mass stars and brown dwarfs from WISE data, including spectral analysis and identification of peculiar and binary systems, expanding knowledge of the Solar Neighborhood.

Findings

42 new low-mass objects discovered and characterized.

Identification of peculiar and binary systems among the new objects.

Potentially young, low-mass brown dwarf identified.

Abstract

In our effort to complete the census of low-mass stars and brown dwarfs in the immediate Solar Neighborhood, we present spectra, photometry, proper motions, and distance estimates for forty-two low-mass star and brown dwarf candidates discovered by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). We also present additional follow-up information on twelve candidates selected using WISE data but previously published elsewhere. The new discoveries include fifteen M dwarfs, seventeen L dwarfs, five T dwarfs, and five objects of other type. Among these discoveries is a newly identified "unusually red L dwarf" (WISE J223527.07+451140.9), four peculiar L dwarfs whose spectra are most readily explained as unresolved L+T binary systems, and a T9 dwarf (WISE J124309.61+844547.8). We also show that the recently discovered red L dwarf WISEP J004701.06+680352.1 (Gizis et al. 2012) may be a low-gravity object and hence young and potentially low mass (< 25 MJup).