Overview
- The companion, designated J1446B, orbits the mid-M dwarf LSPM J1446+4633 about 55 light-years from Earth.
- Modeling constrains an orbit of roughly 4.3 AU with a period near 20 years.
- Integrating six years of Subaru IRD radial velocities with Keck direct imaging and Gaia astrometric acceleration yields a mass near 60 Jupiter masses.
- Near-infrared brightness varied by about 30%, pointing to atmospheric clouds or storms on the brown dwarf.
- The Astronomical Journal paper presents the first Gaia-only acceleration application for such a faint red-dwarf system and identifies the target as a benchmark for future formation and weather studies.