THE COMPACT H Ⅱ REGION S88B: EXCITATION AND EXTINCTION

摘要

We have undertaken an investigation into the excitation of, and dust extinction to, the massive star formation region S88B. Studying stellar properties of the wide-field Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) J (1.23 μm), H (1.65 μm), and K_s (2.16 μm) images, we have determined the extent of, and extinction to, the molecular cloud associated with the ultracompact H Ⅱ regions S88B-1 and S88B-2 and with a newly described infrared H Ⅱ region. Infrared observations of Brγ and Brα hydrogen recombination lines provide extinction maps to the infrared H Ⅱ region, and 3.3 and 3.4 μm images show the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission distribution. We also report the detection of an infrared counterpart to S88B-2.