= = we propose a redirection and extension of our iso program jstauffe.astars. that program has been gathering photometry at 25, 60, and 100 microns of .a. main sequence stars in open clusters with ages corresponding to the era of planet formation in our solar system. this new proposal is for observations just at 16 and 25 microns of 40 stars in 4 clusters to search for hot (terrestrial planet temperature) dust. we wish to: a) observe at 16-25 microns stars that were targeted in our 1st-call proposal for photometry only at 60 microns, and b) add new targets in clusters reachable in the extended iso mission. the optically thin dust responsible for far-ir excesses discovered by iras around many field main sequence stars is most likely produced by collisions of planetesimals or cometary activity in these systems. in some cases the star ages are consistent with the epoch of heavy bombardment when the planets in our solar system were completed. iso flux density and color temperature measurements can be related to planetesimal population densities and locations for comparison with models of the planet formation process. a good way to understand this process is via study of stars in a series of open clusters with a range of ages and for which we have good information on properties of the primary stars. this project is especially focused on measuring the timescale for evolution of material in inner disks. our team includes members who manage the two main cluster membership databases. we have selected a sample in each cluster that includes single and binary stars and stars with a range of other stellar parameters within spectral class .a.. in the pleiades we have additionally selected stars to avoid as much as possible the bright ir-emitting nebulosity.
Instrument
PHT03
Temporal Coverage
1997-09-14T22:17:40Z/1998-02-17T02:21:16Z
Version
1.0
Mission Description
The Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) was the world's first true orbiting infrared observatory. Equipped with four highly-sophisticated and versatile scientific instruments, it was launched by Ariane in November 1995 and provided astronomers world-wide with a facility of unprecedented sensitivity and capabilities for a detailed exploration of the Universe at infrared wavelengths.
