The structure of the Small Magellanic Cloud. II

Abstract

The structure of the SMC is investigated using previous H-I data, accurate radial velocities of 307 young stars and 35 H-II regions, and high-spectral-resolution profiles of interstellar absorption lines. It is found that 224 stars and 30 H-II regions of the main body of the SMC are associated with four H-I components, and that 54 of the objects are not associated with H I. Two main complexes of gas, stars, and H-II regions are found, one with a velocity of about -28 km/s and the other with a velocity of about +9 km/s. Most of the young stars are shown to lie within a depth smaller than 10 kpc, in agreement with recent Magellanic Cepheid data.