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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2026
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.00250 |
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Table of Contents:
- The Herbig Ae star AB Aurigae hosts a vast, low-inclination protoplanetary disk that exhibits a plethora of substructures, including the protoplanet candidate AB Aur b. We present M-band spectroscopic data taken with NASA IRTF from Feb 2024 covering multiple position angles that captured emission from an off-centered, low temperature, and compact source. Analysis of the ${}^{12}$CO $ν=$1-0 low-J ro-vibrational emission line profiles and spectroastrometric signals localizes the source at around an orbital radius of 65 au and a position angle of 143$^\circ$. These coordinates are distinctly different from those of AB Aur b, which was not detected. Although there is no obvious explanation for the detected source, if we assume it was a circumplanetary disk, then its maximum temperature would be about 550 K and its maximum radius would be about 5 au. Our results alludes to a previously unknown companion that may be residing in the AB Aurigae system.