We propose to map the Auriga-California Molecular Cloud (AMC) with the same observing parameters as being used for the rest of the clouds in the Gould Belt by the Herschel GT team conducting that program. The AMC was not included in that program BUT is extremely important as a counterpoint to the Orion Molecular Cloud (OMC) because it is as large and massive as the OMC but has a factor of 10 lower level of star formation, most of which is concentrated at the southeast end near the LkHalpha 101 cluster. We already have complete Spitzer survey data on this cloud and are in the process of obtaining JCMT line and continuum survey observations. The OMC has informed our understanding of star clusters and massive star formation. It is essential, however, to test that understanding by observing other massive clouds with differing levels of star formation. The combination of Herschel data with our existing Spitzer and molecular line data is vital to understand the physical reasons underlying the large differences in star formation between these two regions. Herschels combination of angular resolution and 5-band imaging for dust temperature and emissivity measurements permit a uniquely high level of analysis of the far-IR emission from the AMC and comparison with the OMC.
Publication
Physical properties and chemical composition of the cores in the California molecular cloud | Zhang Guo-Yin et al. | Astronomy & Astrophysics Volume 620 id.A163 22 pp. | 620 | 10.1051/0004-6361/201833622 | 2018A&A...620A.163Z | http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018A%26A...620A.163Z
Filament identification through mathematical morphology | Koch Eric W. et al. | Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Volume 452 Issue 4 p.3435-3450 | 452 | 10.1093/mnras/stv1521 | 2015MNRAS.452.3435K | http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015MNRAS.452.3435K
The JCMT Gould Belt Survey: A First Look at the Auriga-California Molecular Cloud with SCUBA-2 | Broekhoven-Fiene H. et al. | The Astrophysical Journal Volume 852 Issue 2 article id. 73 20 pp. (2018). | 852 | 10.3847/1538-4357/aa911f | 2018ApJ...852...73B | http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018ApJ...852...73B
Understanding star formation in molecular clouds. I. Effects of line-of-sight contamination on the column density structure | Schneider N. et al. | Astronomy & Astrophysics Volume 575 id.A79 17 pp. | 575 | 10.1051/0004-6361/201423569 | 2015A&A...575A..79S | http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015A%26A...575A..79S
Filament Rotation in the California L1482 Cloud | Alvarez-Gutierrez R. H. et al. | The Astrophysical Journal | null | null | 2021ApJ...908...86A |
Herschel and SCUBA-2 observations of dust emission in a sample of Planck cold clumps | Juvela Mika et al. | Astronomy & Astrophysics Volume 612 id.A71 38 pp. | 612 | 10.1051/0004-6361/201731921 | 2018A&A...612A..71J | http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018A%26A...612A..71J
Relationship between turbulence energy and density variance in the solar neighbourhood molecular clouds | Kainulainen J. et al. | Astronomy & Astrophysics Volume 608 id.L3 6 pp. | 608 | 10.1051/0004-6361/201731028 | 2017A&A...608L...3K | http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017A%26A...608L...3K
HP2 survey. III. The California Molecular Cloud: A sleeping giant revisited | Lada Charles J. et al. | Astronomy & Astrophysics Volume 606 id.A100 16 pp. | 606 | 10.1051/0004-6361/201731221 | 2017A&A...606A.100L | http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017A%26A...606A.100L
A First Look at the Auriga-California Giant Molecular Cloud with Herschel and the CSO: Census of the Young Stellar Objects and the Dense Gas | Harvey Paul M. et al. | The Astrophysical Journal Volume 764 Issue 2 article id. 133 14 pp. (2013). | 764 | 10.1088/0004-637X/764/2/133 | 2013ApJ...764..133H | http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2013ApJ...764..133H
Probing the Cold Deep Depths of the California Molecular Cloud: The Icy Relationship between CO and Dust | Lewis John Arban et al. | The Astrophysical Journal | null | null | 2021ApJ...908...76L |
Herschel was launched on 14 May 2009! It is the fourth cornerstone mission in the ESA science programme. With a 3.5 m Cassegrain telescope it is the largest space telescope ever launched. It is performing photometry and spectroscopy in approximately the 55-671 µm range, bridging the gap between earlier infrared space missions and groundbased facilities.
European Space Agency, harvey et al., 2012, 'The Auriga-California Molecular Cloud: A Massive Nearby Cloud With Powerful Diagnostics For Early Stages of Star Formation', SPG v14.2.0, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-2o2mdbq
