Perseus molecular cloud

Region in the constellation of Perseus From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Perseus molecular cloud

The Perseus molecular cloud (Per MCld) is a nearby (~1000 ly) giant molecular cloud in the constellation of Perseus and contains over 10,000 solar masses of gas and dust covering an area of 6 by 2 degrees. Unlike the Orion molecular cloud it is almost invisible apart from two clusters, IC 348 and NGC 1333, where low-mass stars are formed. It is very bright at mid and far-infrared wavelengths and in the submillimeter originating in dust heated by the newly formed low-mass stars.

Quick Facts Molecular cloud, Right ascension ...
Perseus molecular cloud
Molecular cloud
Giant molecular cloud
Thumb
Map of the Perseus molecular cloud
Observation data: J2000.0[1] epoch
Right ascension03h 35.0m [1]
Declination+31° 13[1]
Distance956–1047 ly   (293–321 [2] pc)
Apparent dimensions (V)6°×2°
ConstellationPerseus
DesignationsPerseus Molecular Cloud, Perseus Cloud, Per MCld, Per Mol Cloud, Perseus Complex, PMC [1]
See also: Lists of nebulae
Close

It shows a curious ring structure in maps made by the IRAS and MSX satellites and the Spitzer Space Telescope and has been detected by the COSMOSOMAS at microwave frequencies as a source of anomalous "spinning dust" emission.

Perseus Molecular Cloud
Thumb
Location
Thumb
Annotated
Thumb
Full resolution
Spitzer Space Telescope (19 December 2019)

References

Loading related searches...

Wikiwand - on

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.