Nearby molecular clouds. I - Ophiuchus-Sagittarius, b greater than 10 deg

Observations of a 370-sq-deg area at b = 10-24 deg in the Oph-Sag region at the 115-GHz 1-0 transition of CO, obtained with a 256-channel spectrometer on the 1.2-m mm-wave telescope at Columbia University during winter 1980-1981 are reported. Observing parameters include full beamwidth at half power 8 arcmin, resolution 1 or 0.5 deg, velocity resolution 0.65 km/s, and frequency-shifting-mode shift 5 MHz; the data-processing scheme is described in detail. The results are presented in a map and a diagram and discussed with regard to other observations. An extended complex of molecular clouds near the sun and probably connected with the Aquila Rift, the Rho Oph Cloud, and the Gould Belt is detected. A correlation is found between the CO line intensity and the H I deficiency observed in the region, suggesting H2 formation with H2 column densities up to 1 x 10 to the 21st/sq cm.