Absolute positions of 6.7-GHz methanol masers

TL;DR

This study precisely measures the positions of 35 6.7 GHz methanol masers using interferometers, providing crucial data for future parallax measurements and insights into early high-mass star formation.

Contribution

It offers the first high-accuracy absolute positions of methanol masers, facilitating future astrometric studies and associations with infrared sources.

Findings

Masers are linked to early high-mass star formation stages.

Data supports use of masers for astrometric measurements.

Associations with infrared sources established.

Abstract

The ATCA, MERLIN and VLA interferometers were used to measure the absolute positions of 35 6.7 GHz methanol masers to subarcsecond or higher accuracy. Our measurements represent essential preparatory data for Very Long Baseline Interferometry, which can provide accurate parallax and proper motion determinations of the star-forming regions harboring the masers. Our data also allow associations to be established with infrared sources at different wavelengths. Our findings support the view that the 6.7 GHz masers are associated with the earliest phases of high-mass star formation.