STUDY OF L-1340 - A STAR-FORMING CLOUD IN CASSIOPEIA

We report results of radio, optical and IRAS observations aimed at rev ealing some basic properties of the dark cloud Lynds 1340 (alpha(1950) =2(h)26(m).0, delta(1950)=+72 degrees 44') Study Of the cumulative dis tribution of field star distance moduli and photometry of stars embedd ed in reflection nebulae within the cloud yield distance values close to 600 pc for L 1340. (CO)-C-13 and (CO)-O-18 observations reveal thre e dense cores within the cloud having masses of 280, 470 and 180 M., r espectively Young stellar object candidates, namely IRAS point sources , H alpha emission stars and stars illuminating reflection nebulae are found to be associated with the cores. We detected 13 H alpha emissio n stars within the area of the cloud on objective prism plates. They c an be regarded as candidate pre-main sequence stars born in the cloud. 22 IRAS point sources with flux density distribution characteristic o f young stellar objects are found in the cloud area. Seven of them can be associated with H alpha emission stars. We give objective prism sp ectral types and photoelectric UBV magnitudes for the stars illuminati ng reflection nebulosities within the cloud. The young stellar populat ion associated with the cloud apparently contains four B and A type st ars illuminating reflection nebulae and 17 low and intermediate mass p re-main sequence star candidates appearing as IRAS point sources and H alpha emission stars. Nine IRAS point sources have infrared colours c haracteristic of deeply embedded protostellar objects. The surface dis tribution of the young stellar object candidates closely correlates wi th the three cores of the cloud.