Dix Planetary Science Seminar

"The Previously Unexplored GMC Survey: Preliminary Results"

Olivia Wilkins

Abstract: Much of our understanding of star formation and the chemistry that takes place alongside it is limited to low-mass star-forming regions or a few (and quite complicated) high-mass regions. Giant molecular clouds (GMCs) are cold, dense regions that are promising hunting grounds for new sources in which to do observational astrochemistry, particularly as it relates to high-mass star formation. The Previously Unexplored GMC (PUG) survey is a search for such environments for follow-up with state-of-the-art telescopes like ALMA (for gas chemistry) and JWST (for ices).