Spitzer Space Telescope - General Observer Proposal #20300


Photoevaporation and triggered star formation in the massive star
forming region W5

Principal Investigator: Lori Allen
           Institution: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

Co-Investigators: 
Joseph Hora, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory                    
Luis Chavarria, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics           
S. Thomas Megeath, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory              
James Muzerolle, Steward Observatory                                  
Erick Young, Steward Observatory                                      
Chris Brunt, Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory                 

Science Category: massive stars 
 Observing Modes: IracMap MipsScan 
  Hours Approved: 23.6 

Abstract:
We propose to image the massive star forming region W5 with IRAC and
MIPS, to determine the importance of triggering in massive star
forming regions.  Spitzer is uniquely equipped to identify the young
stars and protostars over a large area of sky through their infrared
excess emission.  Finding all the current sites of star formation in
W5 will allow us to determine whether or not star formation on a large
scale is dominated by triggering.  Because of its geometry (and
geography), W5 is an ideal candidate for a study of this kind.