[181.05] A Mid-Infrared Survey of the Inner 2 x 1.5 Degrees of the Galaxy with Spitzer/IRAC

AAS 207th Meeting, 8-12 January 2006
Session 181 Probing the Galactic Center
Poster, Thursday, 9:20am-4:00pm, January 12, 2006, Exhibit Hall

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[181.05] A Mid-Infrared Survey of the Inner 2 x 1.5 Degrees of the Galaxy with Spitzer/IRAC

S. Stolovy (Spitzer Science Center (SSC)), S. Ramirez (IPAC), R. G. Arendt (SSAI/GSFC), D. Gezari (GSFC), C. Law (Northwestern U.), A. Cotera (SETI), J. Karr (SSC), F. Yusef-Zadeh (Northwestern U.), H. Moseley (GSFC), K. Sellgren (OSU), H. A. Smith, R. Smith (CfA)

We present a survey of Spitzer Space Telescope/IRAC observations of the central 2 x 1.5 degrees (280 x 210 pc) of the Galaxy. Mosaics at 3.6, 4.5, 5.8 and 8.0 microns are presented with 1-2'' spatial resolution, corresponding to 0.04-0.08 pc at the distance of the Galactic Center (GC). These data represent the highest spatial resolution and sensitivity large-scale map made to date of the GC at mid-infrared wavelengths. The IRAC data provide a census of the optically obscured stellar sources as well as a detailed map of the highly filamentary structure in the interstellar medium. The ISM emission is dominated by PAH emission from small grains in star-forming regions. Dark clouds displaying a large variety of sizes and morphologies are imaged, many of which remain opaque at IRAC wavelengths. We display dramatically different views of the GC, spanning radio through x-ray wavelengths. Using this multiwavelength comparison, we determine which objects are likely to be in the foreground and which are located at the GC. We find no counterparts at IRAC wavelengths to the unique system of linear, nonthermal radio filaments present at the GC.

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