Mid-Infrared Imaging of the High Mass Star Formation Region S255-2: Multiple Stages of Star Formation in a Single Young Stellar Cluster

Session 41 - T Tauri Stars & Protostellar Regions.
Display session, Wednesday, June 11
South Main Hall,

[41.12] Mid-Infrared Imaging of the High Mass Star Formation Region S255-2: Multiple Stages of Star Formation in a Single Young Stellar Cluster

E. M. Howard (UMASS Amherst), P. Blanco, J. Sarmecanic (UCSD)

We present high spatial resolution mid-infrared imaging from 8.8 to 20 microns of the region S255-2. The region is an intermediate evolutionary stage star formation region exhibiting emission from high mass stars ranging from heavily embedded YSOs to stars that have nearly cleared their surroundings of gas and dust.

The primary excitation source of the region, IRS1, is found to be double and dominates the emission in this wavelength regime. The more evolved object IRS2 exhibits emission from a dusty shell associated with PAH features. The third radio source in the region, IRS3, exhibits very little emission in this wavelength regime, although it may be associated with additional nebular emission, possibly a more evolved shell.

The region presents a unique opportunity to study many phases of the early evolution of high mass stars and the early evolution of a stellar cluster. Observations were obtained with the UCSD's 10 micron camera at the Mt. Lemmon Observatory Facility.

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The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: ehwd@kutath.phast.umass.edu

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