Embedded star clusters associated with luminous IRAS point sources

Abstract

Consideration is given to results of a near-infrared (J, H, and K bands)and CS (J = 2-1) survey of 20 star-forming regions selected from theIRAS Point Source Catalog that lie in the second and third quadrants ofthe Galaxy. Data obtained show that nineteen of the 20 IRAS sourcescontain a significant number of stars in excess of that observed in thereference fields and, undoutedly, each are newly formed clusters. To alimiting magnitude of 15.5 mag, the number of observed cluster membersvaries from 15 to 91. Radio continuum, FIR, and NIR observations confirmthe notion that high-mass, B type stars are forming within theseclusters. The CS observations revealed dense cores in all 20 IRASsources, with the core's masses ranging from 8 to 270 solar masses. TheCS cores exhibit a variety of cloud morphologies.