| |
 |
| Paper: |
The KW Object - Onset of a Massive Cluster Formation Caught in the Act |
| Volume: |
322, The Formation and Evolution of Massive Young Star Clusters |
| Page: |
385 |
| Authors: |
Hoffmeister, V.H.; Chini, R. |
| Abstract: |
A multicolour high-resolution imaging study of the KW object indicates that this puzzling IR source is a binary system of early B-type stars with a projected separation of 2600AU, associated with a faint IR reflection nebula. The brighter component with an IR luminosity of 4.1 · 103 LSolar is obscured by 25 mag of visual extinction and exhibits a huge IR excess. The system is embedded in a small cluster of about 100 stars of which 25% also show IR excess emission. From the density of OB stars within the central 0.1 pc of 2.4 · 103 stars pc−3 we suggest that a new massive cluster is presently forming in the molecular cloud M17SW. |
|
|
|
|
|
