The Distribution of 115 GHz CO Towards W33

Abstract

Although the radio continuum distribution of the HII-region/molecular-cloud complex W33 (peak l = 12°.8, b = -0°.2) resembles a discrete region about 15′ arc in size, the behaviour of the recombination-line velocities (Gardner et al. 1975; Bieging et al. 1978) and molecular-line velocities (OH: Robinson et al. 1970; H2CO: Gardner and Whiteoak 1972) has been difficult to interpret in terms of a simple model. There is a difference of opinion as to whether W33 consists of two independent complexes at different distances along the line of sight or a single expanding complex (e.g. Goss et al. 1978).