Dust Extinction and the Structure of Lynds Dark Nebula 781

Author(s)

E. J. Murphy, T. L. Huard, C. J. Lada, J. Alves

Abstract

We present the first analysis of Lynds Dark Nebula (LDN) 781 using

near-infrared images obtained with the 1.2-meter telescope at the Fred

Lawrence Whipple Observatory, supplemented with 2MASS data. By measuring

the near-infrared color excesses of stars lying behind the cloud, a map

of the dust extinction was constructed. From this extinction map, we

identify and characterize individual cores within LDN 781. In addition,

we determine the spatial density of stars foreground to this cloud in

order to give a preliminary estimate of its distance. Using this

distance and assuming the standard reddening law applies to the dust

within this cloud, we derive the mass of LDN 781 and model the radial

density profile perpendicular to its major axis.

Organisation(s)

Department of Astrophysics

External organisation(s)

Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Tufts University, European Southern Observatory (Germany)

Journal

Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society

Volume

200

Pages

766

ISSN

0002-7537

Publication date

05-2002

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

103004 Astrophysics

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