DETECTION OF STAR FORMATION IN THE UNUSUALLY COLD GIANT MOLECULAR CLOUD G216-2.5
- Ritter Observatory, MS-113, University of Toledo, 2801 W. Bancroft St., Toledo, OH 43606 (United States)
- Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, 933 North Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85721 (United States)
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627 (United States)
The giant molecular cloud G216-2.5, also known as Maddalena's cloud or the Maddalena-Thaddeus cloud, is distinguished by an unusual combination of high gas mass (1-6 x 10{sup 5} M {sub sun}), low kinetic temperatures (10 K), and the lack of bright far-IR emission. Although star formation has been detected in neighboring satellite clouds, little evidence for star formation has been found in the main body of this cloud. Using a combination of mid-IR observations with the IRAC and Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer instruments onboard the Spitzer Space Telescope, and near-IR images taken with the Flamingos camera on the KPNO 2.1 m telescope, we identify a population of 41 young stars with disks and 33 protostars in the center of the cloud. Most of the young stellar objects are coincident with a filamentary structure of dense gas detected in CS (2 {yields} 1). These observations show that the main body of G216 is actively forming stars, although at a low stellar density comparable to that found in the Taurus cloud.
- OSTI ID:
- 21269238
- Journal Information:
- Astronomical Journal (New York, N.Y. Online), Vol. 137, Issue 4; Other Information: DOI: 10.1088/0004-6256/137/4/4072; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1538-3881
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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