A STUDY OF LYNDS 1251 DARK CLOUD: I. STRUCTURE AND KINEMATICS

  • Published : 1994.10.01

Abstract

We have mapped the whole extent of a dark cloud Lynds 1251 in the emission of the J=1-0 transitions of $^{12}CO\;and\;^{13}CO$ using FCRAO's fifteen-beam array receiver in high angular resolution of 50'. We have derived physical parameters of L1251, discussed three different mass estimate techniques, and obtained a large range of mass, 600 to $6,000M_\bigodot$, depending on the techniques. The factor of 10 discrepancy between the virial and LTE masses is much larger than expected based on the uncertainties residing in two methods. The large virial mass may reflect the fact that L1251 is not gravitationally bound system as in the case of dark clouds in solar neighborhood. Two outflows are affecting the dynamics of cloud significantly but not enough to reshape the whole extent of the cloud. The small cloud, 'Stripe', which is apparently connected with main cloud, is not likely to be associated with L1251. The velocity gradient composed on this small cloud may be driven by other unknown sources. It is found that L1251 cloud itself is very quiescent except the two bipolar outflow regions.

Keywords