A common proper-motion survey of M dwarf stars within 8 pc of the Sun reveals no new stellar or brown dwarf companions at wide separations ($100-1400 AU). This survey tests whether the brown dwarf '' desert '' extends to large separations around M dwarf stars and further explores the census of the solar neighborhood. The sample includes 66 stars north of À30and within 8 pc of the Sun. Existing first-epoch images are compared with new J-band images of the same fields an average of 7 yr later to reveal propermotion companions within a $4 0 radius of the primary star. No new companions are detected to a J-band limiting magnitude of $16.5, corresponding to a companion mass of $40 Jupiter masses for an assumed age of 5 Gyr at the mean distance of the objects in the survey, 5.8 pc.

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The Maunakea Spectroscopic Explorer (MSE) project has completed its Conceptual Design Phase. This paper is a status report of the MSE project regarding its technical and programmatic progress. The technical status includes its conceptual design and system performance, and highlights findings and recommendations from the System and various subsystems design reviews. The programmatic status includes the project organization and management plan for the Preliminary Design Phase. In addition, this paper provides the latest information related to the permitting process for Maunakea construction.

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