Description
The Red MSX Source (RMS) survey is an ongoing multi-wavelength observational programme designed to return a large, well-selected sample of massive young stellar objects (MYSOs). We have identified ~2000 MYSO candidates located throughout the Galaxy by comparing the colours of MSX and 2MASS point sources to those of known MYSOs. The aim of these follow-up observations is to identify other objects with similar colours such as ultra compact (UC) HII regions, evolved stars and planetary nebulae (PNe) and distinguish between genuine MYSOs and nearby low-mass YSOs. To identify the populations of UCHII regions and PNe within the sample and examine their Galactic distribution. We have conducted high resolution radio continuum observations at 6cm towards 659 MYSO candidates in the northern hemisphere (10{deg}<l<250{deg}) using the Very Large Array (VLA). These observations have a spatial resolution of ~1-2" and typical image rms noise values of ~0.22mJy - sensitive enough to detect a HII region powered by B0.5 star at the far side of the Galaxy. In addition to these targeted observations we present archival data towards a further 315 RMS sources extracted from a previous VLA survey of the inner Galaxy.
|