WISEA J114724.10-204021.3: A Free-Floating Planetary Mass Member of the TW Hya Association

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of a young, free-floating planetary-mass object in the TW Hya association, characterized by its red colors, spectral features indicating youth, and estimated mass of 5-13 Jupiter masses.

Contribution

The study identifies and characterizes one of the youngest and lowest mass free-floating objects in the Solar neighborhood, confirming its membership in the TW Hya association.

Findings

Spectroscopic indicators of youth and low gravity.

Estimated mass of 5-13 Jupiter masses.

Confirmed membership in the TW Hya association.

Abstract

We present WISEA J114724.10$-$204021.3, a young, low-mass, high probability member of the TW Hya association. WISEA J114724.10$-$204021.3 was discovered based on its red AllWISE color (W1$-$W2 = 0.63 mag) and extremely red 2MASS $J-K_{\rm S}$ color ($>$ 2.64 mag), the latter of which is confirmed with near-infrared photometry from the VISTA Hemisphere Survey ($J-K_{\rm S}$ = 2.57$\pm$0.03). Follow-up near-infrared spectroscopy shows a spectral type of L7 $\pm$ 1 as well as several spectroscopic indicators of youth. These include a peaked $H$-band shape and a steeper $K$-band slope, traits typically attributed to low surface gravity. The sky position, proper motion, and distance estimates of WISEA J114724.10$-$204021.3 are all consistent with membership in the $\sim$10 Myr old TW Hya association. Using the age of the TW Hya association and evolutionary models, we estimate the mass of WISEA J114724.10$-$204021.3 to be 5$-$13 $M_{\rm Jup}$, making it one of the youngest and lowest mass free-floating objects yet discovered in the Solar neighborhood.