 The Cygnus Molecular Nebula Complex | |
 IAU Cygnus chart | |
| Object type | Region H II |
|---|---|
| Other designations | IC 1318; Sh2-109[1] |
Observation data (Epoch J2000.0) | |
| Constellation | Cygnus (constellation) |
| 20h 20m [2] | |
| Declination | 40°[2] |
| Distance | 500 / 1533[3] |
| Mass | 10.000–100.000[4] M☉ |
Notable features | Massive giant molecular cloud |
The Cygnus Molecular Nebular Complex (also known simply as the Swan Complex) is a giant molecular cloud located in the heart of the boreal Milky Way, in the direction of the constellation Cygnus. It is one of the most turbulent star-forming areas in the Milky Way Galaxy and its largest known molecular nebula complex. Within it are several H II regions, vast and brilliant stellar associations, open clusters, and a large number of some of the brightest stars in the galaxy.[5]
The most notable structure in the complex is known by the catalog abbreviation Sh2-109; it is a vast ensemble, spanning hundreds of light-years, of H II regions, ionized by very bright stars, raddensated in the various OB Association found in this area of the sky.[1] Sh2-109 is also the brightest and most prominent part of the huge molecular nebula complex known as Cygnus X; the total mass of gas and dust in this region is between 10,000 and 100,000 solar masses.[4]
The region lies on the boundary between the Orion Arm,[6] in which the Solar System is located, and the Perseus Arm,[7] at a distance estimated at 5,000 light-years;[3] the complex would still be in an early stage of its evolution, as would be evidenced by the presence of some extremely young and concentrated open clusters with bright and massive stellar components.[8] In the furthest part of the region, connected to one of the OB associations in the area, is the well-known Cygnus X-1 object, an X-ray source thought by many to be a black hole sucking matter from its companion star, a blue supergiant.[9]
- ^ a b "Galaxy Map". Galaxymap. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
- ^ a b Blitz, Fich & Stark (1982, pp. 183–206)
- ^ a b Schneider, N.; Bontemps, S.; Simon, R.; Jakob, H.; Motte, F.; Miller, M.; Kramer, C.; Stutzki, J. (2006). "A new view of the Cygnus X region. KOSMA 13CO 2 to 1, 3 to 2, and 12CO 3 to 2 imaging" (PDF). Astronomy and Astrophysics. 458 (3): 855–871. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20065088.
- ^ a b Dame (1985, pp. 751–765)
- ^ Harris (1980, pp. 201–206)
- ^ Gursky et al. (1971, p. L15)
- ^ Odenwald & Schwartz (1993, pp. 706–719)
- ^ Comerón & Torra (2001, pp. 539–552)
- ^ Z. Ninkov G. A. H., Walker; Yang, S. (1987). "The primary orbit and the absorption lines of HDE 226868 (Cygnus X-1)". Astrophysical Journal. 321: 425–437. Bibcode:1987ApJ...321..425N. doi:10.1086/165641. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
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