Determination of the reddening of the H/sub 2/ emission from the Orion molecular cloud

Journal Article · Fri Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · Astrophys. J., Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/182987· OSTI ID:6093804

Simon, M; Righini-Cohen, G; Joyce, R R; Simon, T

We have observed the V=1..-->..0 S (0), S (1), S (2), Q (2), Q (3), Q (4), O (5), O (6), and O (7) quadrupole lines of molecular hydrogen from the Orion Molecular Cloud at a position approx.30'' southeast of BN in order to measure the extinction to the emitting region. From the relative line strengths, we find that the lines are strongly reddened, and thus the source of emission lies deep within the Orion Molecular Cloud. The visual extinction to the excited H/sub 2/ derived from the ratios of the S and Q lines is A/sub v/=40 +- 6. The O (5) and O (6) lines appear to suffer additional extinction beyond that predicted by the van de Hulst reddening curve; at least part of this absorption is probably attributable to water ices. If the H/sub 2/ lines are excited by a shock propagating through a molecular cloud, the de-reddened line intensities imply a shock velocity of 10--25 km s/sup -1/.

• Research Organization: Astronomy Program, SUNY-Stony Brook
• OSTI ID: 6093804
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J., Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J., Lett.; (United States) Vol. 230:3; ISSN AJLEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
FLUIDS
HYDROGEN
INFRARED SPECTRA
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
MOLECULES
NEBULAE
NONMETALS
SHOCK WAVES
SPACE
SPECTRA