Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jan 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009aas...21341502h&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #213, #415.02; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 41, p.226
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
Following the detection of a young stellar object (YSO) candidate within the central parsec by Menten et al. (1997), we have conducted a deeper search for ongoing star formation within a radius of 4 pc around the central supermassive black hole using 22 GHz H2O masers as signposts of the embedded stage of star formation. Here, we report discovery of two additional YSO candidates at projected radii of 2 pc and 3.7 pc from a total of 12 H2O masers we detected in observations using the Very Large Array (VLA). We distinguished between masers as potential tracers of star formation, as opposed to red giant giant stars, by comparison of their positions with 2MASS 2.2 micron data, and with positions of SiO and OH masers. The candidate YSO maser at a radius of 2 pc is consistent in position and velocity with existence at the edge of a molecular clump traced by NH3 (1,1), (2,2) and (3,3) emission in the circumnuclear disk. The YSO candidate at 3.7 pc may be associated with the so-called ``Western Streamer'', also traced by NH3 emission. With the total of three YSO candidates, we argue that in situ formation is a plausible origin for stars in the central parsecs, and that transportation inward from much larger (e.g., 10 - 30 pc) Galactocentric radii via massive carriers, such as the proposed intermediate mass black hole in IRS 13, may not be required.
Humphreys Elizabeth
Menten Karl. M.
Reid Mark J.
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