High Resolution Mid-infrared Imaging of W3(OH)

Abstract

We present results of our diffraction-limited mid-infrared imaging of the massive star-forming region W3(OH) with SpectroCam-10 on the 5-m Hale telescope at wavelengths of 8.8, 11.7, and 17.9 micron. The thermal emission from heated dust grains associated with the ultracompact HII region W3(OH) is resolved and has a spatial extent of ~2 arcsec in the N band. We did not detect the hot core source W3(H_2O) which implies the presence of at least 12 mag of extinction at 11.7 micron towards this source. These results together with other data were used to constrain the properties of W3(OH) and W3(H_2O) and their envelopes by modelling the thermal dust emission.

5 pages, 2 figures, A&A in press

References in corpus (1)

• Mid-Infrared Detection of a Hot Molecular Core in G29.96-0.02

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• A Search for Mid-Infrared Emission from Hot Molecular Core Candidates
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• The hot core-ultracompact HII connection in G10.47+0.03
• SOFIA/FORCAST and Spitzer/IRAC Imaging of the Ultra Compact H II Region W3(OH) and Associated Protostars in W3
• The compact, time-variable radio source projected inside W3(OH): Evidence for a Photoevaporated Disk?
• Mapping Physical Conditions in Neighboring Hot Cores: NOEMA Studies of W3(H${}_2$O) and W3(OH)
• Comparing Complex Chemistry in Neighboring Hot Cores: NOEMA Studies of W3(H${}_2$O) and W3(OH)
• Infrared observations of the flaring maser source G358.93-0.03 -- SOFIA confirms an accretion burst from a massive young stellar object