High-Mass Star Formation in the Near and Far 3-KPC Arms

TL;DR

This study reports the detection of 6.7-GHz methanol masers in the 3-kpc arms of the Galaxy, providing strong evidence of ongoing high-mass star formation in these regions based on the largest survey of its kind.

Contribution

It presents the first large-scale survey detecting methanol masers in the 3-kpc arms, confirming active high-mass star formation in these inner Galaxy structures.

Findings

49 methanol masers detected in the 3-kpc arms

Masers coincide with the locations of the arms in longitude, latitude, and velocity

Active high-mass star formation occurs in both the near and far 3-kpc arms

Abstract

We report on the presence of 6.7-GHz methanol masers, known tracers of high-mass star formation, in the 3-kpc arms of the inner Galaxy. We present 49 detections from the Methanol Multibeam Survey, the largest Galactic plane survey for 6.7-GHz methanol masers, which coincide in longitude, latitude and velocity with the recently discovered far-side 3-kpc arm and the well known near-side 3-kpc arm. The presence of these masers is significant evidence for high-mass star formation actively occurring in both 3-kpc arms.