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1. Redder than Red: Discovery of an Exceptionally Red L/T Transition Dwarf

   https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/acb0cd  

   Schneider, Adam C.; Burgasser, Adam J.; Bruursema, Justice; Munn, Jeffrey A.; Vrba, Frederick J.; Caselden, Dan; Kabatnik, Martin; Rothermich, Austin; Sainio, Arttu; Bickle, Thomas P.; et al (January 2023, The Astrophysical Journal Letters)

   Abstract We present the discovery of CWISE J050626.96+073842.4 (CWISE J0506+0738), an L/T transition dwarf with extremely red near-infrared colors discovered through the Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 citizen science project. Photometry from UKIRT and CatWISE give a (J−K)_MKOcolor of 2.97 ± 0.03 mag and aJ_MKO− W2 color of 4.93 ± 0.02 mag, making CWISE J0506+0738 the reddest known free-floating L/T dwarf in both colors. We confirm the extremely red nature of CWISE J0506+0738 using Keck/NIRES near-infrared spectroscopy and establish that it is a low-gravity, late-type L/T transition dwarf. The spectrum of CWISE J0506+0738 shows possible signatures of CH₄absorption in its atmosphere, suggesting a colder effective temperature than other known, young, red L dwarfs. We assign a preliminary spectral type for this source of L8γ–T0γ. We tentatively find that CWISE J0506+0738 is variable at 3–5μm based on multiepoch WISE photometry. Proper motions derived from follow-up UKIRT observations combined with a radial velocity from our Keck/NIRES spectrum and a photometric distance estimate indicate a strong membership probability in theβPic moving group. A future parallax measurement will help to establish a more definitive moving group membership for this unusual object. 

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2. New Cold Subdwarf Discoveries from Backyard Worlds and a Metallicity Classification System for T Subdwarfs

   https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adb39f  

   Burgasser, Adam J; Schneider, Adam C; Meisner, Aaron M; Caselden, Dan; Hsu, Chih-Chun; Gerasimov, Roman; Aganze, Christian; Softich, Emma; Karpoor, Preethi; Theissen, Christopher A; et al (March 2025, The Astrophysical Journal)

   Abstract We report the results of a spectroscopic survey of candidate T subdwarfs identified by the Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 program. Near-infrared spectra of 31 sources with redJ − W2 colors and largeJ-band reduced proper motions show varying signatures of subsolar metallicity, including strong collision-induced H₂absorption, obscured methane and water features, and weak Kiabsorption. These metallicity signatures are supported by spectral model fits and 3D velocities, indicating thick disk and halo population membership for several sources. We identify three new metal-poor T subdwarfs ([M/H] ≲ –0.5), CWISE J062316.19+071505.6, WISEA J152443.14−262001.8, and CWISE J211250.11-052925.2; and 19 new “mild” subdwarfs with modest metal deficiency ([M/H] ≲ −0.25). We also identify three metal-rich brown dwarfs with thick disk kinematics. We provide kinematic evidence that the extreme L subdwarf 2MASS J053253.46+824646.5 and the mild T subdwarf CWISE J113010.07+313944.7 may be part of the Thamnos population, while the T subdwarf CWISE J155349.96+693355.2 may be part of the Helmi stream. We define a metallicity classification system for T dwarfs that adds mild subdwarfs (d/sdT), subdwarfs (sdT), and extreme subdwarfs (esdT) to the existing dwarf sequence. We also define a metallicity spectral index that correlates with metallicities inferred from spectral model fits and iron abundances from stellar primaries of benchmark T dwarf companions. This expansion of the T dwarf classification system supports investigations of ancient, metal-poor brown dwarfs now being uncovered in deep imaging and spectroscopic surveys. 

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3. CWISE J014611.20–050850.0AB: The Widest Known Brown Dwarf Binary in the Field

   https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ac51d8  

   Softich, Emma; Schneider, Adam C.; Patience, Jennifer; Burgasser, Adam J.; Shkolnik, Evgenya; Faherty, Jacqueline K.; Caselden, Dan; Meisner, Aaron M.; Kirkpatrick, J. Davy; Kuchner, Marc J.; et al (February 2022, The Astrophysical Journal Letters)

   Abstract While stars are often found in binary systems, brown dwarf binaries are much rarer. Brown dwarf–brown dwarf pairs are typically difficult to resolve because they often have very small separations. Using brown dwarfs discovered with data from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) via the Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 citizen science project, we inspected other, higher-resolution, sky surveys for overlooked cold companions. During this process, we discovered the brown dwarf binary system CWISE J0146−0508AB, which we find has a very small chance alignment probability based on the similar proper motions of the components of the system. Using follow-up near-infrared spectroscopy with Keck/NIRES, we determined component spectral types of L4 and L8 (blue), making CWISE J0146−0508AB one of only a few benchmark systems with a blue L dwarf. At an estimated distance of ∼40 pc, CWISE J0146−0508AB has a projected separation of ∼129 au, making it the widest-separation brown dwarf pair found to date. We find that such a wide separation for a brown dwarf binary may imply formation in a low-density star-forming region. 

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4. Scarlet Spectra: Two Red L Dwarfs Revealed by SOAR

   https://doi.org/10.3847/2515-5172/ace448  

   Robbins, Grady; Meisner, Aaron M; Schneider, Adam C; Kirkpatrick, J Davy; Caselden, Dan; Burgasser, Adam J; Faherty, Jacqueline K; Kuchner, Marc J; Marocco, Federico; Gagné, Jonathan; et al (July 2023, Research Notes of the AAS)

   Abstract We present the analysis of two unusually red L dwarfs, CWISE J075554.14−325956.3 (W0755−3259) and CWISE J165909.91−351108.5 (W1659−3511), confirmed by their newly obtained near-infrared spectra collected with the TripleSpec4 spectrograph on the Southern Astrophysical Research Telescope. We classify W0755−3259 as an L7 very low-gravity dwarf, exhibiting extreme redness with a characteristic peakedH-band and spectral indices typical of low-gravity late-type L dwarfs. We classify W1659-3511 as a red L7 field-gravity dwarf, with a more roundedH-band peak and spectral indices that support a normal gravity designation. W1659−3511 is noticeably fainter than W0755−3259, and the roundedH-band of W1659−3511 may be evidence of CH₄absorption. 

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5. A Search for Late-type Brown Dwarfs in the Euclid Quick Data Release 1

   https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ae2fb7  

   Kiwy, Frank; Kirkpatrick, J Davy; Schneider, Adam C; Meisner, Aaron M; Faherty, Jacqueline K; Kuchner, Marc J; Gagliuffi, Daniella Bardalez; Casewell, Sarah L; Bickle, Thomas P (January 2026, The Astronomical Journal)

   Abstract We present the identification and characterization of 15 mid-to-late T dwarf candidates in the Euclid Quick Release 1 (Q1) data set, based on a combined photometric and spectroscopic analysis. Candidates were initially selected via color-based cuts in the EuclidY_E − J_EandJ_E − H_Ecolor–color space, targeting the region occupied by ultracool dwarfs (UCDs) in synthetic photometry from the A. Sanghi et al. sample. From an initial pool of 38,845 sources, we extracted low-resolution near-infrared spectra from the Euclid Near-Infrared Spectrometer and Photometer instrument and applied a two-stage validation procedure that included spectral template fitting followed by visual inspection. Eight of the 15 validated candidates are newly identified objects with no prior literature association. We examined their morphological and photometric properties, and compared them with established spectral standards. Photometric distances were derived using band-averaged distance modulus estimates. We discuss the limitations and promise of the Euclid survey for UCD studies, and demonstrate the potential for discovering substellar populations beyond the reach of current wide-field surveys. 

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