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High-velocity Interstellar Bullets in IRAS 05506+2414: A Very Young ProtostarWe have made a serendipitous discovery of an enigmatic outflow source, IRAS 05506+2414 (hereafter IRAS 05506), as part of a multiwavelength survey of pre-planetary nebulae (PPNs). The HST optical and near-infrared images show a bright compact central source with a jet-like extension, and a fan-like spray of high-velocity (with radial velocities up to 350 km/s) elongated knots which appear to emanate from it. These structures are possibly analogous to the near-IR bullets'' seen in the Orion Nebula. Interferometric observations at 2.6 mm show the presence of a continuum source and a high-velocity CO outflow, which is aligned with the optical jet structure. IRAS 05506 is most likely not a PPN. We find extended NH3 (1,1) emission toward IRAS 05506; these data, together with the combined presence of far-IR emission, H2O and OH masers, and CO and CS J=2-1 emission, strongly argue for a dense, dusty star-forming core associated with IRAS 05506. IRAS 05506 is probably an intermediate-mass or massive protostar, and the very short timescale (200 yr) of its outflows indicates that it is very young. If IRAS 05506 is a massive star, then the lack of radio continuum and the late G to early K spectral type we find from our optical spectra imply that in this object we are witnessing the earliest stages of its life, while its temperature is still too low to provide sufficient UV flux for ionization.
Document ID
20090004435
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Sahai, Raghvendra
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Claussen, Mark
(National Radio Astronomy Observatory Socorro, NM, United States)
Sanchez Contreras, Carmen
(Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas Madrid, Spain)
Morris, Mark
(California Univ. Los Angeles, CA, United States)
Sarkar, Geetanjali
(Indian Inst. of Tech. Kanpur, India)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
June 10, 2008
Publication Information
Publication: The Astrophysical Journal
Publisher: American Astronomical Society
Volume: 680
Subject Category
Astronomy
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NASA ADP 399-20-00-08
CONTRACT_GRANT: DST SR/FTP/PS-67/2005
CONTRACT_GRANT: HST GO-09801.01-A
CONTRACT_GRANT: HST GO-09463.01-A
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF 9981546
CONTRACT_GRANT: NASA LTSA 399-20-40-06
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
star formation
radio lines
mass loss of stars

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