EDP Sciences Journals List
Advanced Search
Subscriber Authentication Point
Home All issues Volume 456/1 Article
Free access article

Issue A&A
Volume 456, Number 1, September II 2006
Page(s) 179 - 187
Section Interstellar and circumstellar matter
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20065505



A&A 456, 179-187 (2006)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20065505

Star formation in the vicinity of the IC 348 cluster

M. Tafalla1, M. S. N. Kumar2 and R. Bachiller1

1  Observatorio Astronómico Nacional (IGN), Alfonso XII 3, E-28014 Madrid, Spain
    e-mail: m.tafalla@oan.es
2  Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto, Rua das Estrelas, 4150-762 Porto, Portugal

(Received 26 April 2006 / Accepted 23 May 2006)

Abstract
Aims.We present molecular line observations of the southwestern part of the IC 348 young cluster, and we use them together with NIR and mm continuum data to determine the distribution of dense gas, search for molecular outflows, and analyze the ongoing star formation activity in the region.
Methods.Our molecular line data consists of C18O(1-0) and N2H+(1-0) maps obtained with the FCRAO telescope at a resolution of about 50'' and CO(2-1) data obtained with the IRAM 30 m telescope at a resolution of 11''.
Results.The dense gas southwest of IC 348 is concentrated in two groups of dense cores, each of them with a few solar masses of material and indications of CO depletion at high density. One of the core groups is actively forming stars, while the other seems starless. There is evidence for at least three bipolar molecular outflows in the region, two of them powered by previously identified Class 0 sources while the other is powered by a still not well characterized low-luminosity object. The ongoing star formation activity is producing a small stellar subgroup in the cluster. Using the observed core characteristics and the star formation rate in the cluster, we propose that similar episodes of stellar birth may have produced the subclustering seen in the halo of IC 348.


Key words: ISM: jets and outflows -- ISM: individual objects: IC 348 -- stars: formation



© ESO 2006


What is OpenURL?

The OpenURL standard is a protocol for transmission of metadata describing the resource that you wish to access. An OpenURL link contains article metadata and directs it to the OpenURL server of your choice. The OpenURL server can provide access to the resource and also offer complementary services (specific search engine, export of references...). The OpenURL link can be generated by different means.
  • If your librarian has set up your subscription with an OpenURL resolver, OpenURL links appear automatically on the abstract pages.
  • You can define your own OpenURL resolver with your EDPS Account. In this case your choice will be given priority over that of your library.
  • You can use an add-on for your browser (Firefox or I.E.) to display OpenURL links on a page (see http://www.openly.com/openurlref/). You should disable this module if you wish to use the OpenURL server that you or your library have defined.