Resolving the compact H II regions in N160A with HST
Abstract
Using high-resolution imaging with the Hubble Space Telescope, we study the Large Magellanic Cloud H II region N160A and uncover several striking features of this complex massive star-forming site. The two compact high excitation H II, blobs (HEBs) A1 and A2 are for the first time resolved and their stellar content and morphology is revealed. A1, being of higher excitation, is powered by a single massive star whose strong wind has created a surrounding bubble. A2 harbors several exciting stars enshrouded by large quantities of dust. The whole N160A nebula is energized by three star clusters for which we obtain photometry and study their color-magnitude diagram. The H II region is particularly dusty, with extinction values reaching an AV ~ ,2.5 mag in the visible, and it is separated from the molecular cloud by an outstanding ionization front. A previously detected infrared young stellar object is also accurately located with respect to the H II region. Based on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS 5-26555. These observations are associated with proposal #8247.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- January 2002
- DOI:
- 10.1051/0004-6361:20011577
- arXiv:
- arXiv:astro-ph/0110622
- Bibcode:
- 2002A&A...381..941H
- Keywords:
-
- STARS: EARLY-TYPE;
- ISM: DUST;
- EXTINCTION;
- H II;
- REGIONS;
- ISM: INDIVIDUAL OBJECTS: N160A;
- GALAXIES: MAGELLANIC CLOUDS;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 11 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy &