Prof Michael Burton (School of Physics, University of New South Wales)

The Eye of the Tornado - a decade-long tale of mystery and obscuration - Prof Michael Burton Colloquium

ATNF Marsfield Lecture Theatre

Abstract

The Tornado Nebula and its Eye have long been enigmatic objects. A
non-thermal, filamentary nebulous object (the Tornado) apparantly
associated with a compact, thermal object (the Eye), in the direction of
the Galactic centre. What are they and how are they related? Given the
striking morphology, explanations have centred around a common origin for
the phenomena. However, measurements of emission lines associated with
each object now show that they are clearly separate beasts, and therefore
should be interpreted differently. Bringing to bear near-IR line, mid-IR
continuum, mm-line and radio continuum measurements of the Eye, we propose
a model for it as a massive, young stellar object, still embedded in its
natal core, but beginning to break free. It is in the vicinity of the
Galactic Centre, and also appears to be an isolated example of massive
star formation.