Infrared observations of a BOK globule in the southern Coalsack.
Abstract
Near-infrared JHK photometry is presented of 75 stars detected in a 2.2-micron survey of a 200 sq arcmin area centered on Bok globule 2 in the Southern Coalsack. There is no evidence for a young cluster associated with the dark cloud; rather, the sample consists entirely of field stars. The color excess E(J - K) is used to establish the density distribution in the globule. The density of the globule is found to be fairly constant within an innner region, then drops rapidly toward the outer boundary. From these observations the mass of globule 2 is estimated to be a relatively low 11 solar masses. There is inconclusive evidence that the gas-to-dust ratio in the Coalsack is abnormally low.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- November 1980
- DOI:
- 10.1086/158449
- Bibcode:
- 1980ApJ...242..132J
- Keywords:
-
- Astronomical Photometry;
- Infrared Astronomy;
- Nebulae;
- Southern Sky;
- Cosmic Dust;
- Globules;
- Interstellar Extinction;
- Interstellar Gas;
- Astrophysics