CO Outflow Candidates toward the W3/4/5 Complex I: The Sample and Its Spatial Distribution

Abstract

Using the Purple Mountain Observatory Delingha 13.7 m telescope, we conducted a large-scale 12 CO outflow survey (over ∼110 deg 2 ) toward the W3/4/5 complex and its surroundings. In total, 459 outflow candidates were identified. Approximately 62% (284) were located in the Perseus arm, including the W3/4/5 complex and its surroundings, while ∼35% (162) were located in the Local arm, ∼1% (5) were in the Outer arm, and ∼2% (8) were in two interarm regions. This result indicated that star formation was concentrated in the Galactic spiral arms. The detailed spatial distribution of the outflow candidates showed that the Perseus arm presented the most active star formation among the study regions. The W3/4/5 complex is a great region to research massive star formation in a triggered environment. A key region, which has been well studied by other researches, is in the eastern high-density W3 complex that neighbors the W4 complex. Two shell-like structures in the Local arm contain candidates that can be used to study the impact on star formation imposed by massive or intermediate-mass stars in relatively isolated systems. The majority of outflow candidates in the two interarm regions and the Outer arm are located in filamentary structures.