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Issue A&A
Volume 405, Number 3, July III 2003
Page(s) L33 - L36
Section Letters
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20030811



A&A 405, L33-L36 (2003)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20030811

Letter

Discovery of a dust cloud next to $\sigma$ Orionis

J. Th. van Loon and J. M. Oliveira

Astrophysics Group, School of Chemistry & Physics, Keele University, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK
(Received 23 April 2003 / Accepted 26 May 2003)

Abstract
We report on the discovery of a mid-infrared source at a projected distance of only 1200 AU from the O9.5 V star $\sigma$ Orionis. The spatially resolved, fan-shaped morphology and the presence of an ionization front, as well as evidence in the spectrum for processed dust grains, all suggest that it is a proto-planetary disk being dispersed by the intense ultraviolet radiation from  $\sigma$ Orionis. We compute the mass budget and the photo-evaporation timescale, and discuss the possible nature of this remarkable object.


Key words: circumstellar matter -- stars: formation -- stars: individual: $\sigma$ Orionis (HD 37468) -- planetary systems: protoplanetary disks -- infrared: stars

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© ESO 2003


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