Cygnus X (star complex)

Cygnus-X is a massive star formation region located in the constellation of Cygnus at a distance from the Sun of 1.4 kiloparsecs (4,600 light years).^[1]^[2] It has a dimension of 7° x 7°,^[3]^[4] which translates into around 170x170 pc (560x560 ly), at a distance of 1.4 kpc.

As it is located behind the Cygnus Rift and its light is heavily absorbed by the Milky Way's interstellar dust, it is better studied in other wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum that penetrate it such as the infrared.

^ Rygl, K. L. J.; Brunthaler, A.; Sanna, A.; Menten, K. M.; Reid, M. J.; van Langevelde, H. J.; Honma, M.; Torstensson, K. J. E.; Fujisawa, K. (March 2012). "Parallaxes and proper motions of interstellar masers toward the Cygnus X star-forming complex. I. Membership of the Cygnus X region". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 539: A79. arXiv:1111.7023. Bibcode:2012A&A...539A..79R. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201118211. ISSN 0004-6361.
^ Dharmawardena, T. E.; Bailer-Jones, C. a. L.; Fouesneau, M.; Foreman-Mackey, D. (February 2022). "Three-dimensional dust density structure of the Orion, Cygnus X, Taurus, and Perseus star-forming regions". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 658: A166. arXiv:2111.06672. Bibcode:2022A&A...658A.166D. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202141298. ISSN 0004-6361.
^ Beerer, I. M.; Koenig, X. P.; Hora, J. L.; Gutermuth, R. A.; Bontemps, S.; Megeath, S. T.; Schneider, N.; Motte, F.; Carey, S.; Simon, R.; Keto, E.; Smith, H. A.; Allen, L. E.; Fazio, G. G.; Kraemer, K. E. (September 2010). "A Spitzer View of Star Formation in the Cygnus X North Complex". The Astrophysical Journal. 720 (1): 679–693. arXiv:1007.2112. Bibcode:2010ApJ...720..679B. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/720/1/679. ISSN 0004-637X.
^ Reipurth, B.; Schneider, N. (December 2008). "Star Formation and Young Clusters in Cygnus". Handbook of Star Forming Regions, Volume I. 4: 36. Bibcode:2008hsf1.book...36R.

[1] Rygl, K. L. J.; Brunthaler, A.; Sanna, A.; Menten, K. M.; Reid, M. J.; van Langevelde, H. J.; Honma, M.; Torstensson, K. J. E.; Fujisawa, K. (March 2012). "Parallaxes and proper motions of interstellar masers toward the Cygnus X star-forming complex. I. Membership of the Cygnus X region". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 539: A79. arXiv:1111.7023. Bibcode:2012A&A...539A..79R. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201118211. ISSN 0004-6361.

[2] Dharmawardena, T. E.; Bailer-Jones, C. a. L.; Fouesneau, M.; Foreman-Mackey, D. (February 2022). "Three-dimensional dust density structure of the Orion, Cygnus X, Taurus, and Perseus star-forming regions". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 658: A166. arXiv:2111.06672. Bibcode:2022A&A...658A.166D. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202141298. ISSN 0004-6361.

[3] Beerer, I. M.; Koenig, X. P.; Hora, J. L.; Gutermuth, R. A.; Bontemps, S.; Megeath, S. T.; Schneider, N.; Motte, F.; Carey, S.; Simon, R.; Keto, E.; Smith, H. A.; Allen, L. E.; Fazio, G. G.; Kraemer, K. E. (September 2010). "A Spitzer View of Star Formation in the Cygnus X North Complex". The Astrophysical Journal. 720 (1): 679–693. arXiv:1007.2112. Bibcode:2010ApJ...720..679B. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/720/1/679. ISSN 0004-637X.

[4] Reipurth, B.; Schneider, N. (December 2008). "Star Formation and Young Clusters in Cygnus". Handbook of Star Forming Regions, Volume I. 4: 36. Bibcode:2008hsf1.book...36R.

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