Abstract

We present accurate trigonometric parallaxes for 20 new members of the 25 pc white dwarf (WD) sample as part of the Discovery and Evalution of Nearby Stellar Embers (DENSE) project. Previously, there were a total of 112 WD systems with trigonometric parallaxes placing them within 25 pc and of these, 99 have trigonometric parallaxes known to better than 10%. Thus, the 20 new members presented in this work represent a 20% increase in the number of WDs accurately known to be within 25 pc. In addition, we present updated parallaxes for seven known WDs within 10 pc that have been observed as part of the Astrometric Search for Planets Encircling Nearby Stars initiative to monitor nearby southern red dwarfs and WDs for astrometric perturbations from unseen companions. Including a few WD companions and WDs beyond 25 pc, we present a total of 33 trigonometric parallaxes. We perform atmospheric modeling for WDs to determine physical parameters (i.e., Teff, log g, mass, and WD age). Finally, a new ZZ Ceti pulsating WD was identified and revised constraints are placed on two mixed H/He atmosphere cool WDs that display continuum absorption in the near-infrared. © 2009. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.