Molecules in deep sky objects/interstellar space ?

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Robin Leadbeater
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Molecules in deep sky objects/interstellar space ?

Post by Robin Leadbeater »

Molecules are detectable in cool stars, comets, gas planets by amateurs of course but the question came up in another forum as to whether amateurs are able to detect molecules in deep sky objects or the interstellar medium. Does anyone know of such measurements? Are there any molecular spectral signatures from these sources within the range of CCD/CMOS technology ?

Cheers
Robin
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Andrew Smith
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Re: Molecules in deep sky objects/interstellar space ?

Post by Andrew Smith »

Not sure if this counts but you get absorption due to interstellar sodium in the spectra of some stars e.g. Rho Cas which I have captured.
Regards Andrew
Andrew Smith
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Re: Molecules in deep sky objects/interstellar space ?

Post by Andrew Smith »

Just scanned "Physics of the interstellar and intergalactic medium" which did not turn up anything obvious. The ones which might have been in the visible are also in our atmosphere and show as the teluric lines!

Maybe others know better

Regards Andrew
Robin Leadbeater
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Re: Molecules in deep sky objects/interstellar space ?

Post by Robin Leadbeater »

Hi Andrew,
Andrew Smith wrote:Not sure if this counts but you get absorption due to interstellar sodium in the spectra of some stars e.g. Rho Cas which I have captured.
Regards Andrew
I remember the IS lines from NA (and K) being really annoying when I was trying to measure these lines during Eps Aur eclipse. Not molecular though so no prize I am afraid :(
LHIRES III #29 ATIK314 ALPY 600/200 ATIK428 Star Analyser 100/200 C11 EQ6
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Robin Leadbeater
Posts: 1926
Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2011 4:41 pm
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Re: Molecules in deep sky objects/interstellar space ?

Post by Robin Leadbeater »

There is also an interesting comprehensive list of inter/circumstellar molecules on Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_i ... _molecules
Though likely none detectable from the ground at visible wavelengths

Robin
LHIRES III #29 ATIK314 ALPY 600/200 ATIK428 Star Analyser 100/200 C11 EQ6
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Benjamin Mauclaire
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Re: Molecules in deep sky objects/interstellar space ?

Post by Benjamin Mauclaire »

Hi,

I confirm Robin's story about Na line from ISM. It's a pitty.
In my last paper about RR Lyr dynamics (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2019A%26A...623A.109G, sec. 4), we first thought that Na line doubling came from Schwarzschild phenomenon (describing pulsation), but the reddish Na I line keep a steedy wavelength.
Although, the fact that Na reddish FWHM line was about 9 kms whicch is consistent with the ISM gas at high resolution.
We confirmed such hypothesis by looking for exsiting ISM bubble and loop between Earth and RR Lyr star in dedicated papers. Such reaserch domain is far from stellar astrophysics and is really an other world! Believe me, Univers is complex.

Benji
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Benjamin Mauclaire
Posts: 258
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Re: Molecules in deep sky objects/interstellar space ?

Post by Benjamin Mauclaire »

Re.

Be careful that each line of sight has to be studied with dedicated bibliographic research.
Milky way is complex.

Benji
Spcaudace spectroscopy software: saving you hundred hours of frustration.
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