Triennial Report, International Astronomical Union, Division VI/Commission 34/Working Group Astrochemistry
Magazine article, 2012
The study of molecules in space, known as astrochemistry or molecular astrophysics, is a rapidly growing field. Molecules exist in a wide range of environments in both gaseous and solid form, from our own solar system to the distant early universe. To astronomers, molecules are indispensable and unique probes of the physical conditions and dynamics of regions in which they are detected, especially the interstellar medium. In particular, the many stages of both low-mass and high-mass star formation are better understood today thanks to the analysis of molecular observations. Molecules can also yield a global picture of the past and present of sources. Moreover, molecules affect their environment by contributing to the heating and cooling processes that occur.
Author
E. F. van Dishoeck
Eric Herbst
Yuri Aikawa
John H Black
Chalmers, Earth and Space Sciences, Radio Astronomy and Astrophysics
Geoffrey Blake
P. Caselli
José Cernicharo
G. Garay
M. Guelin
Uffe Grae Jørgensen
John P. Maier
K. M. Menten
Thomas J. Millar
Sun Kwok
Farid Salama
Ian Sims
Amiel Sternberg
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
1743-9213 (ISSN) 1743-9221 (eISSN)
Vol. 7 Transactions T28A 236-239Subject Categories
Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology
Roots
Basic sciences
Infrastructure
Onsala Space Observatory
DOI
10.1017/S1743921312002876