Detection of HC11N in IRC + 10°216
Abstract
The observations of three rotational transitions (J = 70 --> 69, 71 --> 70, and 72 --> 71) of HC11N (cyano-deca-penta-yne) in the microwave emission spectrum of the circumstellar envelope of the cool carbon star IRC + 10°216 are reported here. The abundances relative to molecular hydrogen and HC7N are estimated to be ~7×10-8 and ~0.7, respectively. With these observations, taken during March and May 1981 at the Haystack Observatory, HC11N becomes the largest and heaviest molecule yet detected outside the Earth's atmosphere.
- Publication:
-
Nature
- Pub Date:
- February 1982
- DOI:
- 10.1038/295389a0
- Bibcode:
- 1982Natur.295..389B
- Keywords:
-
- Carbon Stars;
- Cyano Compounds;
- Hydrocyanic Acid;
- Molecular Spectroscopy;
- Stellar Spectra;
- Abundance;
- Line Spectra;
- Microwave Emission;
- Stellar Envelopes;
- Stellar Mass Ejection;
- Astrophysics