DENIS J1048−3956

DENIS J1048−3956 is an exceptionally small, dim ultra-cool red dwarf star about 13.2 light years from Earth in the southern constellation of Antlia, among the stars closest to Earth. This star is very dim with an apparent magnitude of about 17,[3] and will require a telescope with a camera to be seen. It was discovered in 2000 by Xavier Delfosse (Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands, now Observatoire de Grenoble) and Thierry Forveille (Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope Corporation), with the assistance of nine other astronomers.

DENIS J1048−3956

Observation data Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation	Antlia
Right ascension	10h 48m 14.640s[1]
Declination	−39° 56′ 06.24″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V)	17.532[1]
Characteristics
Spectral type	M8.5V[1]
Apparent magnitude (J)	9.5[1]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)	−10.1 ± 0.5[1] km/s
Proper motion (μ)	RA: −1198 ± 10[1] mas/yr Dec.: −970 ± 8[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)	247.2156 ± 0.0512 mas[2]
Distance	13.193 ± 0.003 ly (4.0451 ± 0.0008 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)	19.37[3]
Details
Mass	0.075[4] M☉
Radius	0.108[4] R☉
Surface gravity (log g)	4.3±0.3[5] cgs
Temperature	2330±60[6] K
Age	<1[5] Gyr
Other designations
GJ 11547[7],2MASS J10481463−3956062, 2MASSI J1048147−395606, 2MUCD 20385, DENIS-P J104814.9−395604, DENIS-P J104814.7−395606, DEN 1048−3956, USNO-B1.0 0500-00227632
Database references
SIMBAD	data
Data sources:
Hipparcos Catalogue, CCDM (2002), Bright Star Catalogue (5th rev. ed.)
DENIS 1048−3956 Location of DENIS J1048−3956 in the constellation Antlia

Kinematically, DENIS J1048−3956 belongs to the young thin disc.[5] In 2005 a powerful flare from this object was detected by radio astronomy.[8]

J1048 is a good example of the smallest, least massive stars possible. With a mass just 7.5% that of the Sun, it is barely large enough to sustain fusion in its core. In fact, it is so small, dim, and cool that it was originally thought to be a brown dwarf.