 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (March 2021) |
| Molecular cloud | |
|---|---|
| Giant molecular cloud | |
 Map of the Perseus molecular cloud | |
| Observation data: J2000.0[1] epoch | |
| Right ascension | 03h 35.0m [1] |
| Declination | +31° 13′[1] |
| Distance | 956–1047 ly (293–321 [2] pc) |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 6°×2° |
| Constellation | Perseus |
| Designations | Perseus Molecular Cloud, Perseus Cloud, Per MCld, Per Mol Cloud, Perseus Complex, PMC [1] |
The Perseus molecular cloud (Per MCld) is a nearby (~1000 ly) giant molecular cloud in the constellation of Perseus and contains over 10,000 solar masses of gas and dust covering an area of 6 by 2 degrees. Unlike the Orion molecular cloud it is almost invisible apart from two clusters, IC 348 and NGC 1333, where low-mass stars are formed. It is very bright at mid and far-infrared wavelengths and in the submillimeter originating in dust heated by the newly formed low-mass stars.
It shows a curious ring structure in maps made by the IRAS and MSX satellites and the Spitzer Space Telescope and has been detected by the COSMOSOMAS at microwave frequencies as a source of anomalous "spinning dust" emission.
Perseus Molecular Cloud
Location
Annotated
Full resolution
Spitzer Space Telescope (19 December 2019)
- ^ a b c d "NAME Perseus Cloud". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
- ^ Ortiz-León, Gisela N.; Loinard, Laurent; Dzib, Sergio A.; Galli, Phillip A. B.; Kounkel, Marina; Mioduszewski, Amy J.; Rodríguez, Luis F.; Torres, Rosa M.; Hartmann, Lee; Boden, Andrew F.; Evans, Neal J. II; Briceño, Cesar; Tobin, John J. (2018). "The Gould's Belt Distances Survey (GOBELINS). V. Distances and Kinematics of the Perseus Molecular Cloud". The Astrophysical Journal. 865 (1): 73. arXiv:1808.03499. Bibcode:2018ApJ...865...73O. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/aada49. S2CID 119422324.