Star formation triggered by the Galactic HII region RCW 120: First results from the Herschel Space Observatory

TL;DR

This study uses Herschel infrared data to identify and analyze young stellar objects around the Galactic HII region RCW 120, revealing ongoing star formation, including a high-mass Class 0 protostar and younger low-mass stars, shedding light on triggered star formation processes.

Contribution

First Herschel-based detailed identification and characterization of YSOs in RCW 120, including a high-mass Class 0 object and insights into star formation history.

Findings

Detection of a high-mass (8-10 MSun) Class 0 protostar.

Identification of multiple young low-mass stars around RCW 120.

YSOs on the borders are younger than the ionizing star.

Abstract

By means of different physical mechanisms, the expansion of HII regions can promote the formation of new stars of all masses. RCW 120 is a nearby Galactic HII region where triggered star formation occurs. This region is well-studied - there being a wealth of existing data - and is nearby. However, it is surrounded by dense regions for which far infrared data is essential to obtain an unbiased view of the star formation process and in particular to establish whether very young protostars are present. We attempt to identify all Young Stellar Objects (YSOs), especially those previously undetected at shorter wavelengths, to derive their physical properties and obtain insight into the star formation history in this region. We use Herschel-PACS and -SPIRE images to determine the distribution of YSOs observed in the field. We use a spectral energy distribution fitting tool to derive the YSOs physical properties. Herschel-PACS and -SPIRE images confirm the existence of a young source and allow us to determine its nature as a high-mass (8-10 MSun) Class 0 object (whose emission is dominated by a massive envelope) towards the massive condensation 1 observed at (sub)-millimeter wavelengths. This source was not detected at 24 micron and only barely seen in the MISPGAL 70 micron data. Several other red sources are detected at Herschel wavelengths and coincide with the peaks of the millimeter condensations. SED fitting results for the brightest Herschel sources indicate that, apart from the massive Class 0 that forms in condensation 1, young low mass stars are forming around RCW 120. The YSOs observed on the borders of RCW 120 are younger than its ionizing star, which has an age of about 2.5 Myr.