A Dusty ring in the Coalsack: A dense core caught in the act of formation?
- Author(s)
- Charles Lada, Jill Rathborne, Joao Alves
- Abstract
We propose to obtain molecular line maps of the most opaque molecular
globule in the Coalsack complex, G2. Using deep near-IR observations, we
have discovered a strong central ring of dust column density within the
globule. This ring represents a region of high density and pressure that
is likely a transient structure. A single SEST C18O (2-1) spectrum
toward the center of the ring reveals a complex line profile that most
likely results from turbulence. We suggest that the dense ring is in the
process of transforming into a more centrally condensed state, similar
to that of typical Bok globules and dense star-forming cores. We propose
to use Mopra to obtain a C18O (1-0) map across the dense ring and a 13CO
(1-0) map of the surrounding lower-density envelope. The spatial
variation of the C18O linewidths across the ring, will reveal whether or
not the dense ring is indeed in a very early evolutionary stage of star
formation.
- Organisation(s)
- External organisation(s)
- Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), European Southern Observatory (Germany)
- Journal
- ATNF OPAL
- Pages
- 71
- Publication date
- 04-2006
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 103004 Astrophysics
- Keywords
- Portal url
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/e52e2252-47f4-4ad2-a50f-1e23a049329b