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Interstellar ice grains in the Taurus molecular clouds

Abstract

We report here observations made in November 1981 using the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) at Mauna Kea of the 3 µm ice absorption feature in the spectra of several obscured stars in the Taurus interstellar clouds. The feature correlated in strength with extinction at visual wavelengths (Av), and is present in stars with Av as low as 4–6 mag, a remarkable result when compared with other regions of the Galaxy. Ice may be widespread in the Taurus clouds, vindicating ideas on grain composition and growth first reported nearly 50 yr ago1.

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Whittet, D., Bode, M., Longmore, A. et al. Interstellar ice grains in the Taurus molecular clouds. Nature 303, 218–221 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/303218a0

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