The Orion Nebula in the Far-Infrared: High-J CO and fine-structure lines mapped by FIFI-LS/SOFIA

Randolf Klein, Leslie W. Looney, Erin Cox, Christian Fischer, Christof Iserlohe, Alfred Krabbe, Antonella Nota

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The Orion Nebula is the closest massive star forming region allowing us to study the physical conditions in such a region with high spatial resolution. We used the far infrared integral-field spectrometer, FIFI-LS, on-board the airborne observatory SOFIA to study the atomic and molecular gas in the Orion Nebula at medium spectral resolution. The large maps obtained with FIFI-LS cover the nebula from the BN/KL-object to the bar in several fine structure lines. They allow us to study the conditions of the photon-dominated region and the interface to the molecular cloud with unprecedented detail. Another investigation targeted the molecular gas in the BN/KL region of the Orion Nebula, which is stirred up by a violent explosion about 500 years ago. The explosion drives a wide angled molecular outflow. We present maps of several high-J CO observations, allowing us to analyze the heated molecular gas.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)153-154
Number of pages2
JournalProceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Volume12
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • ISM: Orion Nebula
  • infrared: ISM
  • stars: formation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Space and Planetary Science

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