Infrared images of M17

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Astrophysical Journal; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/170142· OSTI ID:5318021

Lada, C J; Depoy, D L; Merrill, K M; Gatley, I ^[1]

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1. California, University, Berkeley (USA) Steward Observatory, Tucson, AZ (USA) National Optical Astronomy Observatories, Tucson, AZ (USA)

A 256 x 256 near-IR camera at NOAO to image a large portion of the M17 star formation complex. A mosaic image of total size 9 x 9 arcmin is constructed in each of three infrared colors-J, H, and K. The observations determine the size and extent of the obscured cluster of stars which excites the powerful H II region and heats the luminous dust in the adjacent molecular cloud. More than 100 OB stars are found in a clustering several parsecs in diameter within an obscured portion of the H II region. The K luminosity function of this cluster differs significantly from that of the field stars, and has the form expected from the Salpeter initial mass function. The present level of star formation activity in the adjacent molecular clouds M17 SW is found to be considerably lower than that which produced the OB cluster in the H II region. Most of the cluster members are found to have infrared colors which are not consistent with those of purely reddened stellar photospheres. These stars that display IR excesses may be surrounded by circumstellar disks. 26 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5318021
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (United States) Vol. 374; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC DUST
COSMIC GASES
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
DUSTS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FLUIDS
GASES
H2 REGIONS
HEATING
IMAGES
INFRARED RADIATION
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
RADIATIONS
SIZE
SPACE
STAR CLUSTERS
STAR EVOLUTION