Abstract

Project 1640 is a direct imaging survey with the ability to simultaneously gain images and low resolution spectra of faint companions around nearby stars. The spectra span the H and J bands in the near infra-red and enable the detection of broad molecular absorption lines, allowing basic atmospheric modeling to be done and helping to characterise imaged companions. In particular we will be able to investigate the boundary between exoplanets and brown dwarfs and shed light on companions whose masses fall on the borderline between these two regimes. We are currently conducting a survey of near A-F type stars with the aim of detecting young, Jupiter mass planets at separations of around 1”-2” from their host stars. We have also undertaken several observations of known companions, in order to provide spectra and further astrometric data to help refine photometric and orbital parameters for these objects and to start investigating their atmospheric properties.

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