Astronomy & Astrophysics

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Issue		A&A Volume 384, Number 3, March IV 2002
Page(s)		1050 - 1053
Section		Diffuse matter in space
DOI		10.1051/0004-6361:20020069

A&A 384, 1050-1053 (2002)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20020069

Interstellar polarization at high galactic latitudes from distant stars

VI. Extended polarization map and connection with the local spiral structure

A. Berdyugin and P. Teerikorpi

Tuorla Observatory, 21500 Piikkiö, Finland
e-mail: andrei@astro.utu.fi; pekkatee@astro.utu.fi

(Received 8 October 2001 / Accepted 4 January 2002 )

Abstract
We present new interstellar polarization measurements for 116 stars at high galactic latitudes. Our data show that Markkanen's cloud - the main polarization structure seen in the North Galactic Pole area ( $b > 75\degr$ ) extends further towards lower latitudes. Especially, we have found a new dust formation in the area $35\degr$ < , $57\degr < b < 63\degr$ . Interstellar polarization in this part of the sky peaks at $0.7\%$ , which gives a lower limit to the extinction $A_{V} > 0\fm23$ . Polarization vectors in this cloud are very well aligned along the direction of $l = 50\degr$ . On the IRAS 100 micron map this dust structure shows up as a bright emission area. We discuss the new polarization map extending from circumpolar to lower latitudes and point out features which suggest that Markkanen's cloud may be a part of the dust lane in the inner edge of the local spiral or spur.

Key words: polarization -- ISM: dust, extinction -- Galaxy: structure -- Galaxy: general

Offprint request: A. Berdyugin, andrei@astro.utu.fi

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