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A&A 365, 417-423 (2001)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20000073
A Gould-Belt-like structure in M 83
F. ComerónEuropean Southern Observatory, Karl-Schwarzschild-Str. 2, 85748 Garching bei München, Germany
(Received 17 August 2000 / Accepted 24 October 2000)
Abstract
VLT archive observations of M 83 are used to study a complex in the
disk of that galaxy that shows a remarkable similarity to the Gould
Belt. The complex is clearly separated from the overall
spiral pattern of the galaxy. It is several hundred parsecs across, and
is resolved into several tens of point sources, thus looking much as
the Gould Belt should if observed from above the galactic plane.
The point sources are likely to be bright,
Trapezium-like clusters, or compact OB associations. Many of them display
H
emission, whose luminosity is estimated to be of the
order of that of the Orion nebula. The integrated absolute B magnitude
of this complex and the Gould Belt are found to be comparable.
The blue colors of some of the members,
the abundance of H emission, and the lack of any apparent
distortion of the shape of the complex due to galactic shear all argue
for a very young age.
The similarity in size, location with respect to the spiral pattern
of the host galaxy, contents, age, and overall luminosity of the
M 83 complex studied here strongly argue for a similarity
between the two structures.
Key words: Galaxy: open clusters and associations (Gould Belt); solar neighbourhood -- galaxies: individual (M 83); spiral; star clusters; structure
Offprint request: F. Comerón, fcomeron@eso.org
SIMBAD Objects
© ESO 2001