Astrophysics: Scientists observe high-speed star formation

Date:
February 17, 2023
Source:
University of Cologne
Summary:
New observations have brought to light that stars can form through
the dynamic interaction of gas within interstellar gas clouds. This
process unfolds faster than previously assumed, research within the
FEEDBACK programme on board the flying observatory SOFIA revealed.


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FULL STORY ==========================================================================
Even though SOFIA is no longer in operation, the data collected so far
are essential for basic astronomical research because there is no longer
an instrument that extensively maps the sky in this wavelength range
(typically 60 to 200 micrometres). The now active James Webb Space
Telescope observes in the infrared at shorter wavelengths and focuses
on spatially small areas.

Therefore, the analysis of the data collected by SOFIA is ongoing
and continues to provide important insights - also regarding other
star-forming regions: "In the list of FEEDBACK sources, there are other
gas clouds in different stages of evolution, where we are now looking
for the weak CII radiation at the peripheries of the clouds to detect
similar interactions as in the Cygnus X region," Schneider concluded.


==========================================================================
al standards. The results of the study `Ionized carbon as a tracer for
the assembly of interstellar clouds' will appear in the next issue of
Nature Astronomy.

The observations were carried out in an international project led by Dr
Nicola Schneider at the University of Cologne and Prof Alexander Tielens
at the University of Maryland as part of the FEEDBACK programme on board
the flying observatory SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy). The new findings modify previous perceptions that this
specific process of star formation is quasi-static and quite slow. The
dynamic formation process now observed would also explain the formation
of particularly massive stars.

By comparing the distribution of ionized carbon, molecular carbon monoxide
and atomic hydrogen, the team found that the shells of interstellar
gas clouds are made of hydrogen and collide with each other at speeds
of up to twenty kilometres per second. "This high speed compresses
the gas into denser molecular regions where new, mainly massive stars
form. We needed the CII observations to detect this otherwise `dark'
gas," said Dr Schneider. The observations show for the first time the
faint CII radiation from the periphery of the clouds, which could not be observed before. Only SOFIA and its sensitive instruments were capable
of detecting this radiation.

SOFIA was operated by NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) until September 2022. The observatory consisted of a converted Boeing 747
with a built-in 2.7-metre telescope. It was coordinated by the German
SOFIA Institute (DSI) and the Universities Space Research Association
(USRA). SOFIA observed the sky from the stratosphere (above 13 kilometres)
and covered the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, just
beyond what humans can see. The Boeing thus flew above most of the water
vapour in the Earth's atmosphere, which otherwise blocks out infrared
light. This allowed the scientists to observe a wavelength range that
is not accessible from Earth. For the current results, the team used the upGREAT receiver installed on SOFIA in 2015 by the Max Planck Institute
for Radio Astronomy in Bonn and the University of Cologne.

Even though SOFIA is no longer in operation, the data collected so far
are essential for basic astronomical research because there is no longer
an instrument that extensively maps the sky in this wavelength range
(typically 60 to 200 micrometres). The now active James Webb Space
Telescope observes in the infrared at shorter wavelengths and focuses
on spatially small areas.

Therefore, the analysis of the data collected by SOFIA is ongoing
and continues to provide important insights - also regarding other
star-forming regions: "In the list of FEEDBACK sources, there are other
gas clouds in different stages of evolution, where we are now looking
for the weak CII radiation at the peripheries of the clouds to detect
similar interactions as in the Cygnus X region," Schneider concluded.

* RELATED_TOPICS
o Space_&_Time
# Galaxies # Stars # Astrophysics # Astronomy # NASA #
Extrasolar_Planets # Nebulae # Space_Telescopes
* RELATED_TERMS
o Interstellar_medium o Galaxy o Open_cluster o Gas_giant o
Chandra_X-ray_Observatory o Astronomy o Spitzer_space_telescope
o Planetary_nebula

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Cologne. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Nicola Schneider, Lars Bonne, Sylvain Bontemps, Slawa Kabanovic,
Robert
Simon, Volker Ossenkopf-Okada, Christof Buchbender, Ju"rgen
Stutzki, Marc Mertens, Oliver Ricken, Timea Csengeri,
Alexander G.G.M. Tielens. Ionized carbon as a tracer of the
assembly of interstellar clouds. Nature Astronomy, 2023; DOI:
10.1038/s41550-023-01901-5 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/02/230217103934.htm

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