EPIC 204376071

EPIC 204376071

Context star field of EPIC 204376071
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS)
Constellation Scorpius
Right ascension 16h 04m 10.1267s[1]
Declination −22° 34′ 45.5503″[1]
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage M[2]
Astrometry
Proper motion (μ) RA: -11.544[1] mas/yr
Dec.: -24.892[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)7.3908 ± 0.1944 mas[1]
Distance440 ± 10 ly
(135 ± 4 pc)
Details
Mass0.161±0.028[2][3] M
Radius0.631±0.042[3] R
Luminosity (bolometric)0.0273±0.0020[2] L
Temperature2960±75[2] K
Rotation1.63 days[4]
Age10[5] Myr
Other designations
UScoCTIO 48, 2MASS J16041012-2234453[1]
Database references
SIMBADdata

EPIC 204376071 is an M-type star in the constellation of Scorpius. Parallax measurements by the Gaia space observatory put the star at a distance of about 440 light-years (130 parsecs) from Earth.[2][3][5] It is likely a member of the Upper Sco association, and is young enough that it has not yet become a main-sequence star.[2]

Unusual light fluctuations of the star, including up to an 80% dimming in brightness (i.e., "single 80% deep occultation of 1-day duration"), were observed by astronomers.[3][5] The unusual dimming was not only extremely deep, but also substantially asymmetric, with an egress about twice as long as the ingress.[4] Nonetheless, such an unusual dimming for EPIC 204376071 is much greater than the 22% dimming observed for Tabby's star.[6][7] Several explanations have been presented to explain the unusual dimming of the EPIC 204376071 star: one, orbiting dust or small particles; or two, a "transient accretion event of dusty material near the corotation radius of the star".[3] The unusual lightcurve of the star is similar to the lightcurve of a candidate exoplanet, KIC 10403228 b, which may have been caused by a "tilted ring system" orbiting the planet. In the case of EPIC 204376071, an orbiting brown dwarf or large planet, with a ring system, could cause a similar lightcurve, according to the researchers.[5]

Artist's concept of dust or small particles orbiting a star.
  1. ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference SIMBAD-2019 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference RAS-2019-pdf was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference RAS-20190222 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference PHYS-20190305 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference SA-20190306 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference IFLS-20190306 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference TT-20190308 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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