ASTE observations of the massive-star forming region Sgr B2: a giant impact scenario

Abstract We report mapping observations of a 35 pc × 35 pc region covering the Sgr B2 molecular cloud complex in the 13CO (3-2) and the CS (7-6) lines using the ASTE 10 m telescope with high angular resolution. The central region was mapped also in the C18O (3-2) line. The images not only reproduce the characteristic structures noted in the preceding millimeter observations, but also highlight the interface of the molecular clouds with a large velocity jump of a few tens of km s−1. These new results further support the scenario that a cloud–cloud collision has triggered the formation of massive cloud cores, which form massive stars of Sgr B2. Prospects of exciting science enabled by ALMA are discussed in relation to these observations.