Perseus molecular cloud

Perseus Molecular Cloud
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 600 ly
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 (600 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 recently detected by the COSMOSOMAS at microwave frequencies as a source of anomalous "spinning dust" emission.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "NAME PER CLOUD -- Molecular Cloud". SIMBAD. Retrieved 2014-03-14.


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