Surveys for Infrared Excesses to Nearby Stars with Spitzer

Angelle Tanner

We have searched for infrared excesses to a sample of nearby FGK stars as well as a sample of potential SIM/TPF targets with the MIPS and IRS instruments on the Spitzer Space Telescope. The highlights of these studies include the detection of a clear excess within 8-35 microns around the planet bearing star, HD 69830. Our MIPS data suggests a potential correlation between RV planet frequency and IR excess with excesses at 70 microns corresponding to emission from cool dust beyond 10 AU. There is also a set of stars which are spatially resolved at 70 microns allowing for a more robust determination of the properties of the dust. All in all, these observations have allowed us to learn more about the circumstellar environments of nearby main sequence stars and its relationship to planet formation.