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Waves on the surface of the Orion molecular cloud

Author

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  • Olivier Berné

    (Centro de Astrobiología, CSIC/INTA, Carretera de Torrejón a Ajalvir, km 4, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain
    Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, PO Box 9513, NL-2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands)

  • Núria Marcelino

    (Centro de Astrobiología, CSIC/INTA, Carretera de Torrejón a Ajalvir, km 4, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain)

  • José Cernicharo

    (Centro de Astrobiología, CSIC/INTA, Carretera de Torrejón a Ajalvir, km 4, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain)

Abstract

Orion nebula making waves The molecular cloud in the Orion nebula, at about 414 parsecs from Earth, gives us our closest view of massive-star formation. It has been predicted from star-formation models that the gases heated and ionized in the process will generate wave-like structures as they are blown over pre-existing molecular gas. These waves have now been observed, in a new series of radio maps of the Orion nebula. The waves are thought to result from Kelvin–Helmholtz instability, a phenomenon seen at the interface between fluids with different densities and velocities, and further observations of such periodic structures should provide insight into the mechanisms of massive-star formation and its effects on the surrounding region of the molecular cloud.

Suggested Citation

  • Olivier Berné & Núria Marcelino & José Cernicharo, 2010. "Waves on the surface of the Orion molecular cloud," Nature, Nature, vol. 466(7309), pages 947-949, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:466:y:2010:i:7309:d:10.1038_nature09289
    DOI: 10.1038/nature09289
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