Abstract
We report the results of an XMM-Newton observation of the Lagoon Nebula (M8). Our EPIC images of this region reveal a cluster of point sources, most of which have optical counterparts inside the very young open cluster NGC6530. The bulk of these X-ray sources are probably associated with low and intermediate mass pre-main sequence stars. One of the sources experienced a flare-like increase of its X-ray flux making it the second brightest source in M8 after the O4 star 9 Sgr. The X-ray spectra of most of the brightest sources can be fitted with thermal plasma models with temperatures of kT similar to a few keV. Only a few of the X-ray selected PMS candidates are known to display Halpha emission and were previously classified as classical T Tauri stars. This suggests that most of the X-ray emitting PMS stars in NGC6530 are weak-line T Tauri stars. In addition to 9 Sgr, our EPIC field of view contains also a few early-type stars. The X-ray emission from HD 164816 is found to be typical for an O9.5 III-IV star. At least one of the known Herbig Be stars in NGC6530 ( LkHalpha 115) exhibits a relatively strong X-ray emission, while most of the main sequence stars of spectral type B1 and later are not detected. We also detect ( probably) diffuse X-ray emission from the Hourglass Region that might reveal a hot bubble blown by the stellar wind of Herschel 36, the ionizing star of the Hourglass Region.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 499-513 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Astronomy and Astrophysics |
Volume | 395 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Nov 2002 |
Keywords
- ISM : individual objects : M8
- stars : pre-main sequence
- stars : early-type
- X-rays : stars
- open clusters and associations : individual : NGC6530