MULTI-WAVELENGTH PHOTOMETRY OF THE T TAURI BINARY V582 Mon (KH 15D): A NEW EPOCH OF OCCULTATIONS

Abstract

We present multi-wavelength (VRIJHK) observations of KH 15D obtained in\n2012/13, as well as a master table of standard photometry spanning the years\n1967 to 2013. The system is a close, eccentric T Tauri binary embedded in an\ninclined precessing circumbinary (CB) ring. The most recent data show the\ncontinued rise of star B with respect to the trailing edge of the occulting\nhorizon as the system's maximum brightness steadily increases. The wealth of\ndata in time and wavelength domains allows us to track the long-term CCD color\nevolution of KH 15D. We find that the V-I behavior is consistent with direct\nand scattered light from the composite color of two stars with slightly\ndifferent temperatures. There is no evidence for any reddening or bluing\nassociated with extinction or scattering by ISM-sized dust grains. Furthermore,\nwe probe the system's faint phase behavior at near-infrared wavelengths in\norder to investigate extinction properties of the ring and signatures of a\npossible shepherding planet sometimes invoked to confine the CB ring at ~ 5 AU.\nThe wavelength independence of eclipse depth at second contact is consistent\nwith the ring material being fully opaque to 2.2 microns. The color-magnitude\ndiagrams demonstrate excess flux in J and H at low light levels, which may be\ndue to the presence of a hot, young Jupiter-mass planet.\n