A Deep Infrared Extinction Map of Barnard 59

Post date: Sep 15, 2010 8:13:22 PM

Barnard 59 is the only star forming cloud in the Pipe Nebula and has formed a small group of a dozen young stars. This new high-resolution map constructed with data from the VLT, Calar Alto, and the SPITZER space telescope reveals that Barnard 59 is, unexpectedly, a single core. And still thermally dominated. What's holding it from collapse?