Year: 2010
Type: article
Abstract: Using near-infrared United Kingdom Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Galactic Plane Survey data, we make extinction measurements to individual stars along the same line of sight as molecular clouds. Using an existing 3D extinction map of the inner Galaxy, that provides line of sight specific extinction–distance relationships, we convert the measured extinction of molecular clouds to a corresponding distance. These distances are derived independently from kinematic methods, typically used to derive distances to molecular clouds, and as such they have no near/far ambiguity. The near/far distance ambiguity has been resolved for 27 clouds, and distances have been derived to 20 clouds. The results are found to be in good agreement with kinematic measurements to molecular clouds where the ambiguity has already been resolved, using H i self-absorption techniques.
Authors: J. J. Stead, M. G. Hoare
Institution: University of Leeds
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Awards: G1856229163, G6279194340
OpenAlex ID: W1751828588