Molecular Hydrogen in the Lagoon: H2 Line Emission from Messier 8
Abstract
The 2.12μmv=1-0 S(1) line of molecular hydrogen has been imaged in the Hourglass region of M8. The line is emitted from a roughly bipolar region, centred around the O7 star Herschel 36. The peak H2 1-0 S(1) line intensity is 8.2 × 10-15ergs-1cm-2arcsec-2. The line centre emission velocity varies from -25kms-1 in the SE lobe to +45kms-1 in the NW lobe. The distribution is similar to that of the CO J=3-2 line. The H2 line appears to be shock-excited when a bipolar outflow from Herschel 36 interacts with the ambient molecular cloud. The total luminosity of all H2 lines is estimated to be ~16Lsolar and the mass of the hot molecular gas ~9 × 10-4Msolar (without any correction for extinction).
- Publication:
-
Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia
- Pub Date:
- 2002
- DOI:
- 10.1071/AS02001
- arXiv:
- arXiv:astro-ph/0201496
- Bibcode:
- 2002PASA...19..260B
- Keywords:
-
- infrared: ISM;
- HII regions;
- ISM: individual (M8);
- ISM: molecules;
- molecular processes;
- shock waves;
- stars: formation;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 11 pages, 4 figures (1 in colour). Submitted to Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, December 2001