BLAST sources in Galactic plane survey

Distances are estimated from coincident ^13^CO(1-0) velocities combined with a variety of other velocity and morphological data in the literature. In total, 49 sources are associated with a molecular cloud complex encompassing NGC 6823 (distance ~2.3kpc), 10 objects with the Perseus arm (~8.5kpc), and one object is probably in the outer Galaxy (~14kpc). Near NGC 6823, the inferred luminosities and masses of BLAST sources span ~40-10^4^L_{sun}_ and ~15-700M_{sun}_, respectively.

The mass spectrum is compatible with molecular gas masses in other high-mass star-forming regions. Several luminous sources appear to be ultracompact H II regions powered by early B stars. However, many of the objects are cool, massive gravitationally bound clumps with no obvious internal radiation from a protostar, and hence excellent HMPO candidates.