One arc-minute resolution maps of the Orion Nebula at 20, 50, and 100 microns

Journal Article · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/154185· OSTI ID:7354727

Werner x, M W; Gatley, I; Harper, D A; Becklin, E E; Loewenstein, R F; Telesco, C M; Thronson, H A

The central 5' of the Orion Nebula has been mapped with 1' resolution at 50 ..mu.. and 100 ..mu.., using the NASA 91 cm Airborne Infrared Telescope; a new 20 ..mu.. map with similar resolution is presented as well. At all three wavelengths a pronounced maximum in the surface brightness is observed at the infrared cluster, where the total 10 to 1000 ..mu.. luminosity into a 1' beam is approx.7 x 10/sup 4/ L/sub sun/. The spatial and temperature resolution of these data allow us to reach the following conclusions about the nature of the far-infrared emission from this source: The total luminosity of the infrared cluster is in excess of 1.2 x 10/sup 5/ L/sub sun/. Heating by both the infrared cluster and the Trapezium stars is important in producing far-infrared emission associated with the central ridge of the molecular cloud. The infrared cluster is located within the molecular ridge, and the Trapezium stars are probably no further than 0.1 pc from the molecular cloud. Far-infrared emission is seen from an optically prominent ionization front to the southeast of the Trapezium. The emission is produced by material at or near the H I--H II boundary which is heated directly by the Trapezium stars. (AIP)

• OSTI ID: 7354727
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 204:2; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BRIGHTNESS
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
H2 REGIONS
HEATING
HYDROGEN
INFRARED RADIATION
LUMINOSITY
MAPS
NEBULAE
NONMETALS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
RESOLUTION
STAR CLUSTERS