Sh 2-301: A Blistered H ii Region Undergoing Star Formation

Abstract

Abstract We present a multiwavelength study of the H ii region Sh 2-301 (S301) using deep optical data, near-infrared data, radio continuum data, and other archival data at longer wavelengths. A cluster of young stellar objects (YSOs) is identified in the northeast (NE) direction of S301. The Hα and radio continuum images trace the distribution of the ionized gas surrounding a massive star, ALS 207, and the S301 H ii region is bounded by an arc-like structure of gas and dust emission in the southeastern direction. The northwestern part of S301 seems to be devoid of gas and dust emission, while the presence of molecular material between the NE cluster and the central massive star ALS 207 is found. The distribution of warm dust emission, ionized gas, and neutral hydrogen together suggests a blistered morphology of the S301 H ii region powered by ALS 207, which appears to be located near the edge of the cloud. The location of the NE cluster embedded in the cold molecular cloud is found opposite to the blistered morphology. There is a noticeable age difference investigated between the massive star and the NE cluster. This age difference, pressure calculation, photodissociation regions, and the distribution of YSOs favor the positive feedback of the massive star ALS 207 in S301. On a wider scale of S301, the H ii region and the young stellar cluster are depicted toward the central region of a hub-filamentary system, which is evident in the infrared images.