Embedded cluster

Embedded stellar clusters or simply embedded clusters (EC) are open clusters that are still surrounded in their progenitor molecular cloud.^[1] They are often areas of active star formation, giving rise to stellar objects that share similar ages and compositions. Due to the dense material that surrounds the stars, they cannot be observed in visible light but are detectable using other sections of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as the near-infrared and X-rays.

Often the spectra of these objects, like normal open cluster, may be detected as stellar enhancements above expected galactic background stellar counts.^[2] Other times this cannot be detected, as the number of background stars would cancel out any enhancement, especially when observing near the galactic bulge.

As the sizes of stellar objects born in embedded clusters are thought to follow the initial mass function, they are therefore ideal places to study the formation of massive stars.

Although many embedded stellar clusters are known to exist, few have specified names. Below is a list of possible embedded star clusters:

References

^ Lada, Charles J.; Lada, Elizabeth A. (2004). "Embedded clusters in molecular clouds". Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics. 41: 57–115. arXiv:astro-ph/0301540. doi:10.1146/annurev.astro.41.011802.094844.
^ Clerkin, James (2004). 2MASS study of candidate precursors to UCHII regions (Thesis). Universidade do Porto. {{cite thesis}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)

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[1] Lada, Charles J.; Lada, Elizabeth A. (2004). "Embedded clusters in molecular clouds". Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics. 41: 57–115. arXiv:astro-ph/0301540. doi:10.1146/annurev.astro.41.011802.094844.

[2] Clerkin, James (2004). 2MASS study of candidate precursors to UCHII regions (Thesis). Universidade do Porto. {{cite thesis}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)

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