2009/11/16 by L. M. Rebull, Deborah Padgett, D. L. Padgett +55 · 10 citations
Chemistry · Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy #Astrophysics #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Galaxy #Infrared excess #Molecular Spectroscopy and Structure #Molecular cloud #Photometry (optics) #Physics #Spitzer Space Telescope #Star formation #Stars #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #astro-ph.SR
paper · pdf · doi:10.1088/0067-0049/186/2/259
published as Astrophys.J.Suppl.186:259-307,2010 · Accepted to ApJS. Two large online-only figures available with the preprint here: http://web.ipac.caltech.edu/staff/rebull/research.html
arxiv created 2009/11/16 · openalex publication_date 2010/01/21 · arxiv updated 2014/11/20 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We report on the properties of pre-main-sequence objects in the Taurus molecular clouds as observed in seven mid- and far-infrared bands with the Spitzer Space Telescope. There are 215 previously identified members of the Taurus star-forming region in our ~44 deg2 map; these members exhibit a range of Spitzer colors that we take to define young stars still surrounded by circumstellar dust (noting that ~20% of the bona fide Taurus members exhibit no detectable dust excesses). We looked for new objects in the survey field with similar Spitzer properties, aided by extensive optical, X-ray, and ultraviolet imaging, and found 148 new candidate members of Taurus. We have obtained follow-up spectroscopy for about half the candidate sample, thus far confirming 34 new members, three probable new members, and 10 possible new members, an increase of 15%–20% in Taurus members. Of the objects for which we have spectroscopy, seven are now confirmed extragalactic objects, and one is a background Be star. The remaining 93 candidate objects await additional analysis and/or data to be confirmed or rejected as Taurus members. Most of the new members are Class II M stars and are located along the same cloud filaments as the previously identified Taurus members. Among non-members with Spitzer colors similar to young, dusty stars are evolved Be stars, planetary nebulae, carbon stars, galaxies, and active galactic nuclei.