Sh 2-297

Sh 2-297
Emission nebula
Observation data: J2000.0 epoch
Right ascension07h 05m 13.0s
Declination-12° 19′ 00″
Distance3,300–4,600[1] ly
ConstellationCanis Major
DesignationsSh-297, LBN 1039, Ced 90[2]
See also: Lists of nebulae

Sh 2-297 (also known as Sharpless 297) is an emission nebula in the constellation Canis Major. The region was catalogued in 1959 in the extended seconded edition of the Sharpless catalogue.[3] This area is part of the Canis Major OB1 Association, and is a very active area of new star formation.[1]

Studies in 1988 found that the bright star illuminating the nebula was 8th magnitude HD 53623 / HIP 34178 with spectral class B1II/III.[4][1] Later in 2004 it was shown that there was embedded a cold but massive Young Stellar Object or YSO within Sh 2-297 near the edge of one of the dark rifts.[5] This object has been observed in the far-infrared, but it is so deeply embedded in an interstellar cloud that it is undetectable in shorter wavelength observations such as the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS), leading it to be originally named "Unidentified young stellar object 1" or UYSO-1.[6] It was further revealed that this unseen stellar source produces a carbon monoxide (CO) bipolar outflow with a total mass of 5.4 M☉ solar masses, while the surrounding extended envelope weighs 30 M☉–40 M☉.[5][1] Some 96 other YSOs have been discovered to be part of Sh-297, having a mean age of one million years and range in masses between 0.3 M☉ and 2.0 M☉.[1] Many variable stars are also assigned with this nebula complex, including the three brightest: MW Ori, TT Ori and V559 Ori.

Distance is estimated between 1.0 and 1.4 kpc. (3,300–4,600 ly.),[1] averaging 1.2 kpc. or 3,900 ly.

  1. ^ a b c d e f Mallick, K.K.; et al. (2012). "Star Formation Activity in the Galactic H II Region Sh2-297". Astrophysical Journal. 759 (1): 19. arXiv:1209.3420. Bibcode:2012ApJ...759...48M. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/759/1/48. S2CID 59575330.
  2. ^ "LBN 1039". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  3. ^ Sharpless, S. (1959). "A Catalogue of H II Regions". Astrophysical Journal Supplement. 4: 257. Bibcode:1959ApJS....4..257S. doi:10.1086/190049. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  4. ^ Hock, N.; Smith-Moore, M. (1988). Michigan Catalogue of Two-dimensional Spectral Types for the HD Stars. Volume 4, Declinations -26°.0 to -12°.0. Department of Astronomy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Bibcode:1988mcts.book.....H.
  5. ^ a b Forbrich, J.; Schreyer, K.; Posselt, B.; Klein, B.; Th., Henning (2010). "An Extremely Young Massive Stellar Object near IRAS 07029-1215". Astrophysical Journal. 602 (2): 843. arXiv:astro-ph/0311210. Bibcode:2004ApJ...602..843F. doi:10.1086/381180. S2CID 8224341.
  6. ^ Linz, H.; Krause, O.; Beuther, H.; Henning, Th.; Klein, R.; Nielbock, M.; Stecklum, B.; Steinacker, J.; Stutz, A. (2010). "The structured environments of embedded star-forming cores". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 518: L123. arXiv:1005.1937. Bibcode:2010A&A...518L.123L. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201014669. ISSN 0004-6361. S2CID 113405209.