Concept information
Preferred term
molecular cloud
Definition(s)
- A molecular cloud is a cold, dense interstellar cloud that contains a high fraction of molecules, of which close to 200 different types have been discovered in space (see interstellar molecules). It is widely believed that the relatively high density of dust particles in these clouds plays an important role in the formation and protection of the molecules. The emission of molecular lines often shows several distinct intensity peaks, each representing individual clumps or clouds of gas and dust in a region that may extend in total between about 15 and 600 light-years across and is often associated with T Tauri stars – young, pre-main-sequence stars – and also hot massive stars and the ionized gas around them. Two distinct types, of molecular cloud are known, both associated with star formation: giant molecular clouds and dwarf (or small) molecular clouds. (Encyclopedia of Science, by David Darling, https://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/M/molcloud.html)
Broader concept(s)
Narrower concept(s)
In other languages
-
French
URI
http://data.loterre.fr/ark:/67375/MDL-HGG3VT64-1
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