Cool Stars 14 - Submitted Abstract # 296
This version created on 05 October 2006

GQ Lup B Optical and Near-Infrared Photometry:  A Surprising Planetary
Mass Object/Brown Dwarf!


Christian Marois, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Bruce Macintosh, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Travis Barman, Lowell Observatory

I will discuss our re-analysis of archival HST WFPC2 and NICMOS images
and Subaru CH4L, Ks and L' data of the recently discovered planetary
mass companion GQ Lup B.  With these we produce the first R and I band
photometry of the companion, we fit a radius and effective temperature
using detailed model atmospheres and find an unexpected result for the
candidate radius.  An estimated mass is then obtained using the GAIA
dusty models.  Finally, evidence of accretion is detected:  GQ Lup B
might be strongly accreting and still be in its formation phase.  If
the accretion is confirmed, GQ Lup B would become a central point of
interest to study a planetary mass object in formation.  

----------------------------------