Discovery of four new massive and dense cold cores

Abstract

We report the identification, from a 1.2 mm dust continuum emission survey toward massive star-forming regions, of four strong 1.2 mm sources without counterparts at mid-infrared (Midcourse Space Experiment [MSX]) and far-infrared (IRAS) wavelengths. They have radii in the range 0.2-0.3 pc, dust temperatures less than or equal to17 K, masses in the range 4 x 10(2)-2 x 10(3) M-circle dot, and densities of similar to2 x 10(5) cm(-3). We suggest that these objects are massive and dense cold cores that will eventually collapse to form high-mass stars.