Physics
Scientific paper
Jul 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009hst..prop12250b&link_type=abstract
HST Proposal ID #12250. Cycle 18
Physics
Scientific paper
We propose to use WFC3 and coordinated parallel observations with ACS to study a cluster of irradiated jets, photo-ablating disks {proplyds}, and clouds in the low excitation HII region NGC 1977. Located 30Õ north of the Orion Nebula at a distance of about 410 pc , NGC 1977 contains over 100 young stellar objects identified by Spitzer and a half-dozen outflows found on ground-based narrow-band H-alpha images. The star Parenago 2042 powers a knotty jet and a bipolar chain of bow shocks with a C-shaped bend indicating deflection by a side-wind. We will take advantage of the new WFC3 capability to image [MgII] and [OII], species that can outshine H?alpha in UV-dominated shocked environments, to study the structure and excitation conditions in these jets with unprecedented resolution. H-alpha observations with WFC3, and ACS in coordinated parallel mode, will be used to study giant proplyds detected in ground-based images, to search for embedded protoplanetary disks, and to find additional proplyds and micro-jets among the dozens of Spitzer-detected young stars in this field. NGC 1977 is an ideal laboratory for the study of disk survival and evolution in a soft-UV dominated environment lit up by an early B star. Disk sizes and ionization fronts are expected to be larger than in Orion. In the Orion Nebula, photo-ablating plasma flows from the ionization front towards our line-of-sight, making it difficult to determine the distance between any disk and the ionization front. In NGC 1977, the plasma flow is closer to the plane of the sky. Thus, for a constant velocity ionization front, the projected distance of a proplyd from the front is expected to be proportional of its UV exposure-time. A study of disk-size versus distance from the front can be related to the disk photo-erosion rate. This study will make important contributions to our understanding of the impacts of the environment on protostellar jet and proto-planetary disk evolution.;
No associations
LandOfFree
Irradiated Jets and Proplyds in NGC 1977, Orion Nebula's Cousin does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Irradiated Jets and Proplyds in NGC 1977, Orion Nebula's Cousin, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Irradiated Jets and Proplyds in NGC 1977, Orion Nebula's Cousin will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1786024