AN AGE ESTIMATE FOR THE BETA-PICTORIS ANALOG HR-4796A

We have obtained a high-resolution, moderate signal-to-noise spectrum for the M dwarf companion to HR 4796A, an A0 star with a beta Pictoris-type IR excess. The spectrum of the M star shows an extraordinarily strong lithium 6708 Angstrom absorption line with an equivalent width of similar to 550 m Angstrom. Age estimates derived from the lithium strength and from pre-main-sequence isochrone fitting indicate an age of about 8 +/- 2 Myr for HR 4796B. Assuming this age is also applicable to HR 4796A, we conclude that HR 4796A is a relatively normal A star seen at an unusual time (i.e., when it is very young) rather than an A star of ''average'' age which has somehow managed to retain or acquire a dense, circumstellar disk, in rough agreement with conclusions reached previously by Jura et al.