Balloon-borne far-infrared mapping of galactic star forming regions

Abstract

Large angular areas (greater than 500 sq arcmin each) covering the three Galactic star forming regions (NGC 2024, OMC-1/OMC-2, and IRAS 06058 + 2138 and its neighborhood) have been mapped in two FIR bands (58 and 150 micrometers) with approximately 1.5 arcmin resolution using the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) 100 cm balloon-borne telescope. The resulting intensity maps as well as color temperature and optical depth (for NGC 2024 only) maps are presented and their implications are discussed.