Search for interstellar methane.
Abstract
Upper limits of the column abundance of methane have been determined for the Orion molecular cloud in front of the BN object and for the cloud obscuring AFGL 490. Observations of the P(2) line of the ν3 fundamental of CH4 at 3.3 μm give a column density of N < 6×1016cm-2 to BN. The resulting abundance ratio, (CH4)/(CO) < 1×10-2, is consistent with current chemical models of molecular clouds, and confirms that little interstellar carbon is contained in CH4.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- November 1985
- DOI:
- 10.1086/184568
- Bibcode:
- 1985ApJ...298L..67K
- Keywords:
-
- Abundance;
- Interstellar Matter;
- Methane;
- Molecular Clouds;
- Orion Nebula;
- Infrared Spectra;
- Molecular Spectra;
- Astrophysics