GS242-03+37: a lucky survivor in the galactic gravitational field

Context. HI shells and supershells, found in discs of many galaxies including our own, are formed by the activity of young and massive stars (supernova explosions and stellar winds), but the formation of these structures may be linked to other energetic events, such as interactions of high-velocity clouds with the galactic disc. The larger structures in particular significantly influence their surroundings; their walls are often places where molecular clouds reside and where star formation happens. Aims. We explore the HI supershell GS242-03+37, a large structure in the outer Milky Way. Its size and position make it a good case for studying the effects of large shells on their surrounding. Methods. We perform numerical simulations of the structure with the simplified hydrodynamical code RING, which uses the thin-shell approximation. The best fit is found by a comparison with the HI data and then we compare our model with the distribution of star clusters near this supershell. Results. The best model of GS242-03+37 requires, contrary to previous estimates, a relatively low amount of energy, and it has an old age of ∼100 Myr. We also find that the distribution of young star clusters (with ages <120 Myr) is correlated with walls of the supershell, while the distribution of older clusters is not. Clusters that have the highest probability of being born in the wall of the supershell show an age sequence along the wall. Conclusions. GS242-03+37 is a relatively old structure, shaped by the differential rotation, and its wall is a birthplace of several star clusters. The star formation started at a time when the supershell was not already supersonically expanding; it was a result of the density increase due to the galactic shear and oscillations perpendicular to the disc of the Milky Way.

Fast-Expanding Hi Shells Associated with Supernova Remnants in the I-GALFA Survey

We examine excess emission at high positive and negative velocities toward known Galactic supernova remnants (SNRs) in the “Inner-Galaxy Arecibo L-band Feed Array (I-GALFA)” Hi 21-cm survey data. The I-GALFA survey covers ℓ = 32° to 77°, and has a velocity range of ±700 km s−1 with high angular and velocity resolutions (4′ and 0.18 km s−1, respectively) and good sensitivity (0.2 K). The excess emission which is thought to be part of a fast-expanding Hi shell of a SNR is detected from four among 39 SNRs in the I-GALFA area: W44, G54.4–0.3, W51C, and CTB 80. Although the Hi shells of the four SNRs were already reported in low-resolution studies, the first detection of both sides of an expanding Hi shell associated with W44 is very inspiring. We discuss physical properties of these four SNRs and their statistical nature.

An automatic identification of HI shells in the 2nd and 3rd Galactic Quadrants

We briefly discuss different methods used to identify HI shells in TB datacubes. Then we give results for our automatic method applied to LDS and LAB HI surveys of the Milky Way (2nd and 3rd quadrants). We fit the radial distribution of HI shells (the exponential profile with the scale length of 3 kpc) and the size distribution (the power law with the index of 2.1). We compare the distribution of identified HI shells with HII regions and study the differences between identifications in the 2nd and 3rd quadrants.

Evidence for triggered star formation in the Carina Flare supershell

Theory predicts the triggered formation of molecular clouds stars through the fragmentation and collapse of swept-up ambient gas. Yet the majority of Galactic HI shells show no more than a scattering of small molecular clouds. The Carina Flare supershell (Fukui et al. 1999) is a rare example of an HI shell with a striking molecular component. Here we present the large-scale morphology of the molecular and atomic gas and the location of YSO candidates. A detailed look at two molecular clumps in the shell walls reveals active, intermediate mass star forming regions at various stages of early evolution.

An inventory of supershells in nearby galaxies: first results from THINGS

The HI Nearby Galaxy Survey (THINGS), is a 21–cm HI line survey of a sample of 34 nearby (3–10 Mpc) galaxies (Walter et al. 2005). The observations were carried out with the VLA and have a velocity resolution of 5 km s−1 or better and an angular resolution of 7″ which at this distance range corresponds to a linear resolution of 100–300 pc. One of the primary goals of THINGS is to look at the fine–scale structure of the Interstellar Medium (ISM) and examine how it varies as a function of Hubble type, star formation rate, galaxy mass, metallicity, etc. We present one of the first science results from this project, an inventory of HI shells in the galaxies NGC 628, NGC 3184, and NGC 6946.

Evolutionary sequence of expanding Hydrogen shells

Giant HI shells, with diameters of hundreds of parsecs and expansion velocities of 10-20 s−1 are characteristic observed features of local gas rich galaxies. Although a predictable consequence of the impact of OB associations on the ISM doubts have been raised, as OB stars are not present in the centres of the majority of these shells. Here we combine our observations of expanding ionized shells in luminous H II regions with basic dynamical models to give support to the scenario in which OB associations do produce the HI shells.