Sub-arcsec resolution infrared images of the star forming region G 35.20-1.74
by
P. Persi (1), M. Felli (2), P.O. Lagage (3), M. Roth (4), L. Testi (5)
(1) Istituto Astrofisica Spaziale, CNR CP.67, I-00044, Frascati, Italy
(2) Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri,
Largo Enrico Fermi 5, I-50125 Firenze, Italy
(3) CEA/DSM/DAPNIA, Service d'Astrophysique(URA 2052 du CNRS), CE Saclay, F-91191 Gif--sur--Yvette, France
(4) Las Campanas Observatory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Casilla 601, La Serena, Chile
(5) Dipartimento di Astronomia e
Scienza dello Spazio, Universitá di Firenze, Largo E. Fermi, 5, I-50125 Firenze, Italy
Abstract:
We present J(1.25 $\mic$), H(1.65 $\mic$), K(2.2 $\mic$), H$_2$(2.125 $\mic$) an
d 11.2$\mic$ infrared images at sub-arcsec
resolution of an area centered around the star forming region G~35.20--1.74.
In J, H and K a cluster of early type stellar sources with infrared excess
clearly stands out with respect to the background distribution and is
associated with a diffuse K emission around an UC HII region (which is the
brightest source at K). No H$_2$ emission is detected in narrow--band images
at 2.125$\mic$.
At 11.2$\mic$ six components are detected. The brightest one (MIR3) is
extended and coincides with the UC HII region. The source with steepest IR
spectrum and the largest infrared excess (MIR1) is associated with an H$_2$O
maser and a near IR source detected only at K. It is separated from the IR
cluster and at a distance of 20\arcsec from the UC HII region. The IR emission
comes from a local young stellar
object (YSO) associated with the maser. The lack of radio continuum emission
from MIR1 confirms that H$_2$O masers can trace the youngest evolutionary
stages of massive YSOs, much before the appearance of a radio UC HII region
and shows that star formation is not limited to the IR cluster (where most
probably it has already come to an end) but is still taking place in other
parts of the molecular cloud. Of the other 11.2$\mic$ sources, three (MIR2,
MIR4 and MIR5) present IR excesses and are similar to MIR1, while MIR6
appears to be a reddened early-type star.
The morphology of the entire star forming complex, taking into account also
molecular and sub-mm observations, is indicative of different and
independent episodes of star formation taking place in the same molecular
cloud.
Mantained by:
Leonardo Testi
lt@arcetri.astro.it