Large Molecule Heimat

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Large Molecule Heimat
Molecular cloud
Observation data: J2000.0 [1] epoch
Right ascension 17h 47m 20.0s [1]
Declination −28° 22 17 [1]
Constellation Sagittarius
Physical characteristics
Radius 0.3 [2]  ly
See also: Lists of nebulae

The Large Molecule Heimat is a dense gas cloud located in the molecular cloud Sagittarius B2. [2] Many species of molecule, including aminoacetonitrile (a molecule related to glycine), ethyl formate, [3] and butyronitrile, [3] have been detected in the Large Molecule Heimat. [2] [4]

Molecular cloud type of interstellar cloud

A molecular cloud, sometimes called a stellar nursery (if star formation is occurring within), is a type of interstellar cloud, the density and size of which permit the formation of molecules, most commonly molecular hydrogen (H2). This is in contrast to other areas of the interstellar medium that contain predominantly ionized gas.

Sagittarius B2 is a giant molecular cloud of gas and dust that is located about 120 parsecs (390 ly) from the center of the Milky Way. This complex is the largest molecular cloud in the vicinity of the core and one of the largest in the galaxy, spanning a region about 45 parsecs (150 ly) across. The total mass of Sgr B2 is about 3 million times the mass of the Sun. The mean hydrogen density within the cloud is 3000 atoms per cm3, which is about 20–40 times denser than a typical molecular cloud.

Aminoacetonitrile is a simple organic compound containing both nitrile and amino groups. It is somewhat similar to the simplest amino acid, glycine. This compound is commercially available as the chloride and sulfate salts.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Wenger; et al. "Large Molecule Heimat". The SIMBAD astronomical database. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "New organic molecules in space". Max Planck Society. 26 March 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Two highly complex organic molecules detected in space". Royal Astronomical Society. 21 April 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  4. "Max Planck researchers identify new organic molecule in space". CORDIS. Publications Office of the European Union. 27 March 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2015.