Spitzer and near-infrared observations of a new bipolar protostellar outflow in the rosette molecular cloud

Abstract

We present and discuss Spitzer and near-infrared H2 observations of a new bipolar protostellar outflow in the Rosette Molecular Cloud. The outflow is seen in all four InfraRed Array Camera (IRAC) bands and partially as diffuse emission in the MIPS 24 μm band. An embedded MIPS 24 μm source bisects the outflow and appears to be the driving source. This source is coincident with a dark patch seen in absorption in the 8 μm IRAC image. Spitzer IRAC color analysis of the shocked emission was performed from which thermal and column density maps of the outflow were constructed. Narrowband near-infrared (NIR) images of the flow reveal H2 emission features coincident with the high temperature regions of the outflow. This outflow has now been given the designation MHO1321 due to the detection of NIR H2 features. We use these data and maps to probe the physical conditions and structure of the flow. © 2010 The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.