Identification of WISE J000100.45+065259.6 as an M8.5+T5 Spectral Binary Candidate

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of a spectral binary candidate, WISE J000100.45+065259.6, consisting of an M8.5 and T5 component, which could help measure stellar masses across the hydrogen burning limit.

Contribution

The identification of a new spectral binary candidate with potential for mass measurements across the hydrogen burning limit.

Findings

Component types: M8.5+T5

Predicted magnitude difference: ΔJ = 3.5

Likely a closely-separated system (<3 AU)

Abstract

[not part of RNAAS note] We report the discovery of WISE J000100.45+065259.6 as a very low mass star/brown dwarf spectral binary candidate, on the basis of low resolution near-infrared spectroscopy obtained with IRTF/SpeX. Decomposition of the spectrum indicates component types of M8.5+T5 with a predicted $\Delta{J}$ = 3.5. As the majority of confirmed spectral binary candidates to date are very closely-separated systems ($\rho$ $\lesssim$ 3 AU; $P$ $\lesssim$ 15~yr), this source may provide mass measurements across the hydrogen burning limit within the decade.