Star formation in outer galaxy molecular clouds

The characteristics of 50 molecular clouds outside the solar circle (mostly around the radius of 14 kpc) were studied using the NRAO telescope. Maps of CO (J = 1 to 0), (C-13)O, and CO (J = 2 to 1) emission were constructed. The cloud sizes (several tens of pc in length) and masses (up to the several-hundred-thousand solar mass range) are typical of GMCs. The cloud envelope kinetic temperatures are significantly lower (about 7 K) than those typical for GMCs in the inner Galaxy; this is explained by a lower cosmic ray heating rate in the outer Galaxy. Radio data (obtained by the NRAO VLA at 6 and 20 cm) and far-IR observations (made from the Kuiper Airborne Observatory) yield evidence for newly formed late O and early B stars in the outer-Galaxy clouds.