Interstellar Molecular Hydrogen Observed in the Ultraviolet Spectrum of Delta Scorpii
Abstract
Molecular-hydrogen bands of the Lyman and Werner systems have been observed in the ultraviolet, interstellar spectrum of a Sco. The average molecular column density is 3.5 (+2.2, -0.9) X 1019 cm -2, and the average temperature of the gas of which the molecules are part is 47 K. Minimum and maximum gas temperatures are 25 and 98 K, respectively. The observed column density of hydrogen atoms is (1.5 1 0.5) x 102.1 cm- 2, and hence the ratio of the number of hydrogen atoms in molecular form to the total number of hydrogen atoms in either atomic or molecular form is 0.044 (+0.070, -0.018). Subject headings: interstellar medium - molecules, interstellar - ultraviolet - stars, individual
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- January 1973
- DOI:
- 10.1086/181106
- Bibcode:
- 1973ApJ...179L..11S