HD 97048 is a young star still contracting towards the main sequence. Its brightness varies between magnitudes 8.38 and 8.48 and it is classified as an Orion variable.[2] It was given the variable star designation CU Chamaeleontis in 1981.[9] Its spectrum is also variable. The spectral class is usually given as A0 or B9, sometimes with a giantluminosity class, sometimes main sequence. The spectrum shows strong variable emission lines indicative of a shell surrounding the star.[10]
This star has a substantial dust disk having a central cavity with a 40−46 AU radius[3] The disk has a carbon monoxide gas velocity kink and intensity gap at 130 AUs, which is suspected to be caused by a superjovian planet.[12] In 2019, HCO+ ion and Hydrogen cyanide emission was detected from the disk, suggesting a large amount of gas is orbiting beyond 200 AU radius.[13]
In the system a kink in the velocity of carbon monoxide gas (CO 3–2) as well as a gap in the dust emission of the disk are seen as evidence for a jovian protoplanet. The protoplanet is located at 130 au from the star and has a mass of about 2.5 Jupiter masses. It is one of the lowest mass protoplanets discovered as of 2023.[14]
^ abcSamus, N. N.; Durlevich, O. V.; et al. (2009). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: General Catalogue of Variable Stars (Samus+ 2007-2013)". VizieR On-line Data Catalog: B/GCVS. Originally Published in: 2009yCat....102025S. 1. Bibcode:2009yCat....102025S.
^Kholopov, P. N.; Samus', N. N.; Kukarkina, N. P.; Medvedeva, G. I.; Perova, N. B. (1981). "65th Name-List of Variable Stars". Information Bulletin on Variable Stars. 1921: 1. Bibcode:1981IBVS.1921....1K.
^Skiff, B. A. (2014). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: Catalogue of Stellar Spectral Classifications (Skiff, 2009-2014)". VizieR On-line Data Catalog: B/Mk. Originally Published in: Lowell Observatory (October 2014). 1. Bibcode:2014yCat....1.2023S.
^ abPinte, C.; Van Der Plas, G.; Ménard, F.; Price, D. J.; Christiaens, V.; Hill, T.; Mentiplay, D.; Ginski, C.; Choquet, E.; Boehler, Y.; Duchêne, G.; Perez, S.; Casassus, S. (2019). "Kinematic detection of a planet carving a gap in a protoplanetary disk". Nature Astronomy. 3 (12): 1109–1114. arXiv:1907.02538. Bibcode:2019NatAs...3.1109P. doi:10.1038/s41550-019-0852-6. S2CID195820690.