A 2MASS Survey for Brown Dwarfs toward the Hyades

We present results of a search for very low mass stars and brown dwarfs toward the central region of the Hyades. Using Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) near-infrared and Second Palomar Sky Survey (POSS II) optical photometry, we select candidates corresponding to spectral types M8–L4 at the distance of the Hyades. Spectroscopic follow-up data indicate that none are cluster members. The lack of members in the mass range 0.08 M ⊙ < M < 0.06 M ⊙ is consistent with evidence that this 600 Myr–old cluster is deficient in very low mass objects. Three of our objects are of spectral type M8, with surface gravity–sensitive features intermediate between dwarfs and giants. We interpret these objects as background brown dwarfs, perhaps associated with the Taurus star formation region.