Friedrich Wyrowski (Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, Bonn)

Early phases of massive star formation - Friedrich Wyrowski Colloquium

ATNF Marsfield Lecture Theatre

Abstract

While much progress has been made on the early evolution of low-mass protostars, the identification of the corresponding early phases of massive star formation has been more difficult. This difficulty is caused by the greater distance, fewer number and shorter pre-main sequence timescale of massive stars compared with their low-mass counterparts. The advent of new IR missions, mm/submm bolometer arrays and more sensitive interferometers now allows a new look at the birth sites of massive star clusters.

Here I report on observational studies to search for and characterise massive star forming regions in their earliest phases. New results ranging from large surveys to detailed high-angular resolution interferometer studies are presented.