The VLT/NaCo large program to probe the occurrence of exoplanets and brown dwarfs at wide orbits

Abstract

Context. Young, nearby stars are ideal targets for direct imaging searches for giant planets and brown dwarf companions. After the first-imaged planet discoveries, vast efforts have been devoted to the statistical analysis of the occurence and orbital distributions of giant planets and brown dwarf companions at wide (≥5–6 AU) orbits.