2011AJ....142...44J -
Astron. J., 142, 44 (2011/August-0)
Using M dwarf spectra to map extinction in the local galaxy.
JONES D.O., WEST A.A. and FOSTER J.B.
Abstract (from CDS):
We use spectra of more than 56,000 M dwarfs from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) to create a high-latitude extinction map of the local Galaxy. Our technique compares spectra from the stars in the SDSS Data Release 7 M dwarf sample in low-extinction lines of sight, as determined by Schlegel et al., to other SDSS M dwarf spectra in order to derive improved distance estimates and accurate line-of-sight extinctions. Unlike most previous studies, which have used a two-color method to determine extinction, we fit extinction curves to fluxes across the spectral range from 5700 to 9200 Å for every star in our sample. Our result is an AV map that extends from a few tens of pc to approximately 2 kpc away from the Sun. We also use a similar technique to create a map of RV values within approximately 1 kpc of the Sun and find that they are consistent with the widely accepted diffuse interstellar medium value of 3.1. Using our extinction data, we derive a dust scale height for the local Galaxy of 119±15 pc and find evidence for a local dust cavity.
Abstract Copyright:
∼
Journal keyword(s):
dust, extinction - local interstellar matter - stars: late-type - stars: low-mass
Simbad objects:
2
Full paper
View the references in ADS
To bookmark this query, right click on this link: simbad:2011AJ....142...44J and select 'bookmark this link' or equivalent in the popup menu