Subparsec Clumping in the Nearby Molecular Cloud MBM 12

At a distance of 65 pc, the molecular cloud MBM 12 is the nearest molecular complex known. Results of extensive molecular and preliminary atomic spectral mapping of the MBM 12 complex are reported. The total H2 mass of the cloud is estimated to be about 30 solar masses. Although there are over 50 distinct emission clumps and the (C-13)O (J = 1-0) maps show structure within the MBM 12 complex down to the resolution limit of about 6500 AU. The large line widths may reflect either the evaporation of the clumps by the ambient hot gas or the presence of an ensemble of blended emission clumps that are smaller than the resolution limit. Preliminary results show H I envelopes about the molecular cores with column densities consistent with that expected for atomic to molecular transition regions. The kinematics of the MBM 12 complex imply kinetic energies of about 10 to the 45th ergs. This energy is typical of that produced by a bipolar flow from a young stellar object.