STScI Preprint #1272

Infrared Observations of Ongoing Star Formation in the 30 Doradus Nebula and a Comparison with HST/WFPC2 Images

Based in part on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope obtained from the archive at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS5-26555

Intercomparisons of groundbased IR continuum and H₂ images with HST/WFPC2 images of the 30 Doradus Nebula reveal detailed structural relationships, which provide new information about current star formation there. Numerous stellar IR sources have been discovered in or near the bright nebular filaments west and northeast of R136; their locations are intimately connected with the nebular microstructures, as well as with early O stars in dense nebular knots whose optical spectral classifications indicate extreme youth. The H₂ emission predominates in the dust clouds beyond the bright nebulosity and IR sources, with respect to R136. The emerging picture suggests that a new stellar generation is being triggered by the energetic activity of the massive central cluster, in the remanent interstellar material around its periphery. 30 Doradus will likely evolve into a giant shell H II region similar to N11 in the LMC, containing an older association inside an evacuated central cavity, which is surrounded by H II regions ionized by a younger population. Such "two-stage starbursts" may be characteristic of massive-star formation on this scale.

Status:

Appeared in: The Astronomical Journal, 116:1708-1718, 1998

Affiliations:

¹) Departamento de Astronomía, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 36-D, Santiago, Chile
²) Visiting Astronomer, Las Campanas Observatory, Chile
³)Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
⁴) Member of Carrera del Investigador Científico, CONICET Argentina
⁵)Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas, Paseo del Bosque s/n, 1900 La Plata, Argentina
⁶)Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, National Optical Astronomy Observatories Casilla 603, La Serena, Chile
⁷)Las Campanas Observatory, The Observatories, Carnegie Institution of Washington Casilla 601, La Serena, Chile