NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2010A-0293
|
NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2010A-0293 |
|
PI: Kristen Erickson, University of Missouri-St. Louis, kle6x2@umsl.edu
Address: Physics Department, 1 University Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63121, USA
CoI: Bruce Wilking, University of Missouri-St. Louis
CoI: Michael Meyer, ETH Institute for Astronomy
CoI: William Sherry, NOAO
CoI: Serena Kim, University of Arizona
Title: Spectroscopic Confirmation of Young Stars in the Serpens Molecular Cloud: Placing Spitzer and Chandra in Context
Abstract: We propose to complete the first comprehensive spectroscopic survey of young stellar objects associated with the Serpens Main cluster. Already we have obtained optical spectra for 27 Serpens objects with X- ray emission and for the 23 optically brightest objects in the field. An additional 88 spectra have been taken using the WIYN telescope in June of 2009; these spectra are currently undergoing analysis for temperature and surface gravity. Utilizing our deep CCD images of the region obtained in 2007, we have selected 250 candidate young stellar objects, which form an unbiased extinction-limited sample. By observing objects with both blue and red grating settings, we can derive effective temperatures and constrain surface gravities for candidate young stars complete down to 0.3 M_\sun with extinctions A_v\le 5 mag. Using our BVR photometry, we can then derive bolometric luminosities and through comparisons with theoretical tracks and isochrones for young stars, ages and masses. When combined with recent X-ray, infrared and optical surveys of the Serpens region, we will be able to assemble a complete census of young stars, reconstruct the star formation history, estimate disk survival times, and begin investigations into the mass function of this young cluster.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
|
NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2010A-0293 |
|