Protostars and Planets VI, Heidelberg, July 15-20, 2013

Poster 2B045

A WISE survey of circumstellar disks in Taurus

Esplin, Taran (The Pennsylvania State University)
Luhman, Kevin (The Pennsylvania State University)
Mamajek, Eric (The University of Rochester)

Abstract:
Complete samples of circumstellar disks in star-forming regions and accurate classifications of those disks represent a foundation for studies of star and planet formation. Using data from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer All-Sky Release Catalog and other catalogs of ancillary data, we have 1) analyzed all known members of the Taurus star-forming region for infrared excess, indicative of disk presence, and estimated the evolutionary stages of detected disks and 2) searched for new members of Taurus by identifying sources with red mid-infrared colors. Through the latter, we have confirmed 25 new members with optical and infrared spectra. The census of disk-bearing stars in Taurus should now be largely complete.

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