Definition
WISE 0713−2917 is a celestial object identified in data from the Wide‑field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission. It is catalogued as a point source with infrared characteristics that suggest it may be a substellar object, such as a brown dwarf, though its precise nature has not been definitively confirmed in the peer‑reviewed literature.
Overview
The designation “WISE 0713−2917” follows the naming convention of WISE discoveries, where the numbers correspond to the object's right ascension (07 h 13 m) and declination (−29° 17′) in the J2000 coordinate system. The object was detected in the all‑sky infrared survey conducted by the NASA WISE spacecraft between 2009 and 2011. It appears as a faint source in the W1 (3.4 µm) and W2 (4.6 µm) bands, which are typical wavelengths for identifying cool, low‑luminosity bodies such as late‑type T or Y dwarfs.
Etymology / Origin
- WISE – Acronym for Wide‑field Infrared Survey Explorer, the space telescope that performed the survey.
- 0713−2917 – Numerical code derived from the object's celestial coordinates (Right Ascension 07 h 13 m, Declination −29° 17′).
Characteristics
- Spectral classification: Not definitively assigned; candidates are often classified as late‑type T or Y dwarfs based on their infrared colors.
- Photometry: Reported magnitudes in the WISE W1 and W2 bands place the source near the detection limit of the survey, indicating a very low intrinsic brightness.
- Distance: No trigonometric parallax measurement has been published; distance estimates, if any, are derived from photometric comparisons and remain uncertain.
- Temperature: If the object is a brown dwarf, its effective temperature would likely be below 800 K, consistent with late‑type substellar objects.
- Motion: Proper motion data are either unavailable or have not been reported in the literature, limiting assessment of its kinematic properties.
Accurate information is not confirmed for several of the above characteristics, as the object has not been the subject of targeted follow‑up observations published in major astronomical journals.
Related Topics
- Brown dwarfs – Substellar objects that bridge the mass gap between the most massive planets and the least massive stars.
- WISE mission – NASA’s infrared space telescope that conducted an all‑sky survey, leading to the discovery of numerous cool brown dwarfs and other infrared sources.
- Spectral types T and Y – Classification categories for the coolest brown dwarfs, identified primarily by strong methane and water absorption features in the near‑infrared.
- Infrared astronomy – The study of astronomical objects at infrared wavelengths, essential for detecting cool and dust‑enshrouded bodies.
Note: Because WISE 0713−2917 has not been the focus of detailed, peer‑reviewed research, the information presented reflects the current status of publicly available catalog data and acknowledges the uncertainties inherent in its characterization.