2025/05/13 by S. Aardra, Namitha Issac, Aardra, S. +7
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Astro and Planetary Science #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA) #FOS: Physical sciences #Spacecraft and Cryogenic Technologies
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2505.08872
openalex publication_date 2025/05/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Bright-rimmed, cometary-shaped star-forming globules, associated with HII regions, are remnants of compressed molecular shells exposed to ultraviolet radiation from central OB-type stars. The interplay between dense molecular gas and ionizing radiation, analysed through gas kinematics, provides significant insights into the nature and dynamic evolution of these globules. This study presents the results of a kinematic analysis of the cometary globule, Lynds Bright Nebula (LBN) 437, focusing on the first rotational transition of 12CO and C18O molecular lines observed using the Taeduk Radio Astronomy Observatory (TRAO). The averaged 12CO spectrum shows a slightly skewed profile, suggesting the possibility of a contracting cloud. The molecular gas kinematics reveals signatures of infalling gas in the cometary head of LBN 437, indicating the initial stages of star formation. The mean infall velocity and mass infall rate towards the cometary head of LBN 437 are 0.25 km s-1 and 5.08 * 10-1 Msun yr-1 respectively, which align well with the previous studies on intermediate or high-mass star formation.