Near-infrared imaging of embedded young clusters.
Abstract
Some near IR images of star-forming regions in which dense embedded clusters of young stars have been revealed are presented. These images are discussed primarily from a morphological perspective, and some of the concerns that must be dealt with in order to obtain more quantitative data are addressed. It is found that, for clusters as young as 100,000 yr and a typical velocity dispersion of about 1 km/s, stars will move by as little as 0.1 pc, compared to a typical cluster size of 1 pc. In clusters 1,000,000 yr old and 1 pc in diameter (e.g., the Trapezium Cluster), a few cluster crossing times have passed. There is a tendency for the brightest source in a given cluster to be near the center of the source distribution, although exceptions including BN-KL in Orion indicate that there may be multiple independent subcondensations in what will become a single cluster.
- Publication:
-
Memorie della Societa Astronomica Italiana
- Pub Date:
- 1991
- Bibcode:
- 1991MmSAI..62..715M
- Keywords:
-
- Early Stars;
- Infrared Astronomy;
- Molecular Clouds;
- Near Infrared Radiation;
- Star Clusters;
- Star Formation;
- H Ii Regions;
- Infrared Imagery;
- Interstellar Gas;
- Orion Nebula;
- Astrophysics