NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2005B-0532
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2005B-0532 |
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PI: Lori Allen, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, lchavarria@cfa.harvard.edu
Address: OIR, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
CoI: Luis Chavarria, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
CoI: Joseph Hora, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Title: Deep near-IR imaging and spectroscopy of massive star-forming regions
Abstract: We propose wide-field (20' \times 20') FLAMINGOS imaging and MOS of young high-mass stellar clusters in our \it Spitzer GTO program. The proposed imaging data will provide JHK photometry for 5 clusters at distances of 2-3 kpc, which range in size from a few hundred to >1000 stars. The MOS data will provide spectral types for the young embedded portions of 3 of these clusters, enabling their placement in the HR diagram and estimation of stellar masses and ages. The FLAMINGOS observations will be a key element in our optical/infrared/millimeter- wave study of young high-mass clusters, with the goals of: 1) surveying each group and cluster to masses below 1 M_\odot, 2) determining the properties of the constituent stars using near-infrared and optical spectra and 0.6-8 (micron) spectral energy distributions, 3) comparing the star formation properties in each region, and 4) characterizing the interaction between the hot, high-mass stars in these clusters and their surrounding ISM. FLAMINGOS photometry in the 1-2.2 (micron) regime is necessary to detect and characterize the photospheric emission from the embedded stars. In addition, the sub-arcsecond resolution expected with FLAMINGOS will be used to disentagle potential source confusion in the >2\arcsec angular resolution \it Spitzer data. FLAMINGOS spectroscopy is necessary for characterizing the ages and masses of the embedded stars not accessible with optical spectroscopy. The combined FLAMINGOS+\it Spitzer data will provide a complete inventory of disks and protostars in a large sample of young (few Myr) high-mass stellar clusters.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2005B-0532 |
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