Composite CO survey of the entire Milky Way

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/165766· OSTI ID:5345470

Dame, T M; Ungerechts, H; Cohen, R S; De Geus, E J; Grenier, I A

Large-scale CO surveys of the entire Galactic plane and specific nearby clouds have been combined to produce a panorama of the entire Milky Way in molecular clouds at an angular resolution of 1/2 deg. This survey is the only molecular line survey to date with sky coverage and resolution comparable to that of the early 21 cm surveys. The telescopes and the observing techniques used for the individual surveys and the methods of reconciling the survey results are described. The composite survey is presented as a spatial map integrated over velocity and as a longitude-velocity map integrated over latitude; individual clouds and large-scale features of the maps are briefly discussed. The distribution and properties of molecular clouds within 1 kpc of the sun are investigated, and a comparison with other Population I tracers is used to demonstrate that the composite survey probably provides a nearly complete inventory of nearby molecular clouds. 92 references.

• Research Organization: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA; Columbia Univ., NY; Leiden Rijksuniversiteit, Sterrewacht, Netherlands; CEA, Service d'Astrophysique, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
• OSTI ID: 5345470
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 322; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABUNDANCE
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COSMIC GASES
FLUIDS
GALAXIES
GASES
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
MILKY WAY
MOLECULES
NEBULAE
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SPACE