An Enigmatic Pointlike Feature within the HD 169142 Transitional Disk

TL;DR

This paper reports the detection of a faint, red, pointlike feature in the transitional disk of HD 169142, potentially indicating ongoing planet formation, but further observations are needed for confirmation.

Contribution

The study identifies a new faint pointlike feature in the disk of HD 169142, suggesting possible planet formation activity, which has not been previously reported.

Findings

Detected a faint pointlike feature at 0.11" separation

Feature exhibits extremely red colors, unlikely to be a background object

Further multi-wavelength follow-up needed for confirmation

Abstract

We report the detection of a faint pointlike feature possibly related to ongoing planet-formation in the disk of the transition disk star HD 169142. The pointlike feature has a $\Delta$mag(L)$\sim$6.4, at a separation of $\sim$0.11" and PA$\sim$0$^{\circ}$. Given its lack of an H or K$_{S}$ counterpart despite its relative brightness, this candidate cannot be explained by purely photospheric emission and must be a disk feature heated by an as yet unknown source. Its extremely red colors make it highly unlikely to be a background object, but future multi-wavelength followup is necessary for confirmation and characterization of this feature.