Star Formation in the Galactic Center: FORCAST Observations of Sgr B1

The proximity of the center of our Galaxy enables us to study star formation under conditions commonly found in other galaxies, but at spatial resolutions unachievable elsewhere. The Galactic Center (GC) provides unparalleled opportunities to test theories of the interrelationship of massive stars, warm and hot gas and dust, turbulent giant molecular clouds, large-scale magnetic fields, and a black hole. The region known as Sagittarius B is one of the most complex star-forming regions in the galaxy, containing a massive molecular cloud, dozen of HII regions, and numerous young stellar objects (YSOs). It is composed of two distinct regions (Sgr B1 and Sgr B2). Although much of Sgr B is unobservable at IR wavelengths due to extinction, Sgr B1 has lower extinction. We will present data of Sgr B1 taken with the Faint Object InfraRed Camera for the SOFIA Telescope (FORCAST) at 19, 31, and 37 microns. We will present color-temperature maps of the region, which enable us to explore variations in the dust temperatures throughout the region and any relations to the known massive stars and massive YSOs in the region. We will also combine the newly obtained data with archival data to create spectral energy distributions (SEDs) for compact sources throughout the region, to better understand the type, temperature and extinction for these sources. These results will enable us to address the complex issue of the relationship of Sgr B1, Sgr B2, and proposed sequential star formation occurring as the giant molecular clouds in the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) orbit the black hole Sgr A*.