Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

CO observations of IC 5146

Journal Article · · Astron. J.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/112428· OSTI ID:6272397

We find that the dark cloud associated with IC 5146 contains three relatively intense CO bright spots, which probably indicate the presence of embedded, newly formed stars. Signposts of massive (i.e., O) star formation such as H/sub 2/O maser, compact continuum, and bright infrared sources seem to be absent, suggesting that IC 5146 is a region where the formation of stars of later spectral type (i.e., B and later) is occurring. Comparison of our observations with other data suggests that the formation of these stars has been most intense in a small (approx.5 pc), dense, possibly compressed, molecular core located at one end of the more extended (approx.20 pc) cloud complex. The possible origin of this star-forming core is briefly discussed. We also find the IC 5146 cloud complex to be remarkably similar to the rho Oph complex in mass, size, structure, stellar content, and internal molecular velocity dispersion.

Research Organization:
Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721
OSTI ID:
6272397
Journal Information:
Astron. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astron. J.; (United States) Vol. 84:3; ISSN ANJOA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English