Chandra/ACIS Observations of M 17, the Omega Nebula

Details Chandra/ACIS Observations of M 17, the Omega Nebula Chandra/ACIS Observations of M 17, the Omega Nebula

Mar 2003

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003head....7.0603t&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, HEAD meeting #7, #06.03; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 35, p.608

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

We present the first high-spatial-resolution X-ray images of the Omega Nebula (M 17), obtained in a 40-ksec Chandra/ACIS observation. NGC 6618, the massive cluster powering this H II region, is resolved at the arcsecond level into >900 stellar sources similar to those seen in closer young stellar clusters. However, we also detect soft diffuse X-ray emission on parsec scales that is spatially and spectrally distinct from the point source population. The diffuse emission has luminosity Lx ˜ 3.4 x 1033 ergs s-1, with plasma energy components at kT ˜ 0.13 and ˜ 0.6 keV (1.5 and 7 MK). This extended emission most likely arises from the fast O-star winds thermalized either by wind-wind collisions or by a termination shock against the surrounding media. We establish that only a small portion of the wind energy and mass appears in the observed diffuse X-ray plasma; we suspect that most of it flows without cooling into the low-density interstellar medium. These data provide compelling observational evidence that strong wind shocks are present in H II regions.
Support for this effort was provided by NASA contract NAS8-38252 to Gordon Garmire, the ACIS Principal Investigator.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Chandra/ACIS Observations of M 17, the Omega Nebula 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 Chandra/ACIS Observations of M 17, the Omega Nebula, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Chandra/ACIS Observations of M 17, the Omega Nebula will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-998781