Led by Kathryn Devine at the College of Idaho, this project is primarily based in the analysis of archival data from Galactic plane surveys in radio and infrared wavelengths. Dr. Devine and her undergraduate research assistants study regions named “Yellowballs” (YBs) based on their appearance in mid-infrared images. They are working to catalog the physical properties and categorical classifications (e.g., HII region, radio-quiet) of ~6000 YBs. This catalog will be used to delineate the characteristics of star-forming regions that go on to produce massive- vs. intermediate-mass stars
Spitzer Space Telescope. The stars start out in a thick cocoon of dust (left), dubbed “yellowballs” (center);
and finally, blow out cavities in the surrounding dust and gas, resulting in green-rimmed bubbles with red
centers (right).