SIMBA observations of cold cores

These regions have previously been identified as harbouring a methanol maser and/or a radio continuum source [ultracompact (UC) HII region], the presence of which is in most instances indicative of massive star formation. The 1.2-mm emission was mapped using the SIMBA instrument on the 15-m Swedish ESO Submillimetre Telescope (SEST).

Emission is detected toward all of the methanol maser and UC HII regions targeted, as well as towards 20 others lying within the fields mapped, implying that these objects are associated with cold, deeply embedded objects. Interestingly, there are also 20 methanol maser sites and nine UC HII regions within the fields mapped which are devoid of millimetre continuum emission. In addition to the maser and UC HII regions detected, we have also identified 253 other sources within the SIMBA maps.