An S-shaped Outflow from IRAS 03256+3055 in NGC 1333

Abstract

The IRAS source 03256+3055 in the NGC 1333 star-forming region is associated with extended submillimeter emission of complex morphology, showing multiple clumps. One of these is found to coincide with the driving source of a bipolar jet of S-shaped morphology seen in the emission lines of Hα and [S II], as well as in the H2 emission lines in the K band. Detailed images of the driving source at the wavelengths of Hα and [S II] and in the I, J, H, and K bands, as well as a K-band spectrum and polarimetry, are discussed. The near-infrared morphology is characterized by a combination of line emission from the jet and scattered light from a source with a steep continuum spectrum. The morphology and proper motion of the jet are discussed in the context of a binary system with a precessing disk. We conclude that the molecular core associated with IRAS 03256+3055 consists of several clumps, only one of which shows evidence of recent star formation at optical and near-infrared wavelengths. We also briefly discuss a second, newly found near-infrared source associated with a compact submillimeter continuum source near IRAS 03256+3055 and conclude that this source may be physically unrelated to the cluster of molecular clumps.