Perseus molecular cloud

The Perseus molecular cloud (Per MCld) is a nearby (~1000 ly) giant molecular cloud in the constellation of Perseus and contains over 10,000 solar masses of gas and dust covering an area of 6 by 2 degrees. Unlike the Orion molecular cloud it is almost invisible apart from two clusters, IC 348 and NGC 1333, where low-mass stars are formed. It is very bright at mid and far-infrared wavelengths and in the submillimeter originating in dust heated by the newly formed low-mass stars.

Perseus Molecular Cloud
Molecular cloud
Giant molecular cloud
Map of the Perseus molecular cloud
Observation data: J2000.0[1] epoch
Right ascension03h 35.0m [1]
Declination+31° 13′[1]
Distance956–1047 ly   (293–321 [2] pc)
Apparent dimensions (V)6°×2°
ConstellationPerseus
DesignationsPerseus Molecular Cloud, Perseus Cloud, Per MCld, Per Mol Cloud, Perseus Complex, PMC [1]

It shows a curious ring structure in maps made by the IRAS and MSX satellites and the Spitzer Space Telescope and has recently detected by the COSMOSOMAS at microwave frequencies as a source of anomalous "spinning dust" emission.

Perseus Molecular Cloud
Location
Annotated
Full resolution
Spitzer Space Telescope (19 December 2019)

References
  1. "NAME Perseus Cloud". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
  2. Ortiz-León, Gisela N.; Loinard, Laurent; Dzib, Sergio A.; Galli, Phillip A. B.; Kounkel, Marina; Mioduszewski, Amy J.; Rodríguez, Luis F.; Torres, Rosa M.; Hartmann, Lee; Boden, Andrew F.; Evans, Neal J., II; Briceño, Cesar; Tobin, John J. (2018). "The Gould's Belt Distances Survey (GOBELINS). V. Distances and Kinematics of the Perseus Molecular Cloud". The Astrophysical Journal. 865 (1): 73. arXiv:1808.03499. Bibcode:2018ApJ...865...73O. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/aada49.
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