Poster Abstracts

Name/Affiliation:  Niall Deacon (MPIA)

Title:  Benchmark companions to nearby stars from Pan-STARRS 1

Abstract:
We present the largest sample of benchmark ultracool dwarf companions to stars to date. Pan-STARRS1 with its large sky coverage (30,000 sq.deg.), red-sensitive detectors and multiple epochs provides the ideal tool for discovering wide, common proper motion systems. We have used these data to identify 48 wide, ultracool (M7-T5) companions to nearby stars. This represents a doubling of the number of late M dwarf companions wider than 300 AU and an 80% increase in the number of L companions in the same separation range. We examine the population of ultracool companions as a whole and highlight interesting benchmark systems which can be used to constrain the properties of ultracool atmospheres.