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UWISH2 - the UKIRT Widefield Infrared Survey for H2

Froebrich, Dirk, Davis, Chris J., Ioannidis, G., Gledhill, T. M., Takami, M., Chrysostomou, A, Drew, Janet E., Eisloffel, Jochen, Gosling, Amanda, Gredel, Roland, and others. (2011) UWISH2 - the UKIRT Widefield Infrared Survey for H2. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 413 (1). pp. 480-492. ISSN 0035-8711. (doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.18149.x) (KAR id:40501)

Abstract

We present the goals and preliminary results of an unbiased, near-infrared, narrow-band imaging survey of the first galactic quadrant (10° < l < 65°; ?1Graphic3 < b < +1Graphic3). This area includes most of the giant molecular clouds and massive star forming regions in the Northern hemisphere. The survey is centred on the 1–0 S(1) rovibrational line of H2, a proven tracer of hot, dense molecular gas in star-forming regions, around evolved stars, and in supernova remnants. The observations complement existing and upcoming photometric surveys (Spitzer-GLIMPSE, UKIDSS-GPS, JCMT-JPS, AKARI, Herschel Hi-GAL, etc.), though we probe a dynamically active component of star formation not covered by these broad-band surveys. Our narrow-band survey is currently more than 60 per cent complete. The median seeing in our images is 0.73 arcsec. The images have a 5? detection limit of point sources of K? 18 mag and the surface brightness limit is 10?19 W m?2 arcsec?2 when averaged over our typical seeing. Jets and outflows from both low- and high-mass young stellar objects are revealed, as are new planetary nebulae and – via a comparison with earlier K-band observations acquired as a part of the UKIDSS GPS – numerous variable stars. With their superior spatial resolution, the UWISH2 data also have the potential to reveal the true nature of many of the extended green objects found in the GLIMPSE survey.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.18149.x
Additional information: Froebrich is the PI of this major UKIRT survey and was thus responsible for organizing observational campaigns, creating data bases and analyzing the data. Froebrich formed and led the UWISH2collaboetion and this paper presents the collaboration objectives and first results. Froebrich wrote, edited and revised the paper. ; number of additional authors: 32;
Uncontrolled keywords: stars: formation, ISM: individual objects: Galactic Plane, ISM: jets and outflows, ISM: kinematics and dynamics, infrared: stars
Subjects: Q Science > QB Astronomy
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Physics and Astronomy
Depositing User: Stewart Brownrigg
Date Deposited: 07 Mar 2014 00:05 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:15 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/40501 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Froebrich, Dirk.

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CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Smith, Michael D..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4289-5952
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