The lifecycle of molecular clouds and the extragalactic side of Francesco
Abstract
I outline the interest of Francesco for star formation in nearby galaxies and the main results of the latest project Francesco was interested in and actively working at. This involves the association between giant molecular clouds (GMCs) and young stellar cluster candidates (YSCCs) in M33. The GMCs have a remarkable spatial correlation with infrared selected YSCCs, stronger than with Halpha or optically selected sources, with a typical separation of 17 pc. Through age estimates of the YSCCs, and a classification of GMCs according to various evolutionary stages, we estabish that 14 Myrs is a typical lifetime of a GMC in M33 with the inactive and embedded phases lasting about 4 and 2 Myrs respectively.
- Publication:
-
Memorie della Societa Astronomica Italiana
- Pub Date:
- 2017
- Bibcode:
- 2017MmSAI..88..544C
- Keywords:
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- Galaxies: individual: M33;
- Galaxies: star formation;
- Galaxies: ISM;
- ISM: molecules;
- infrared: ISM