MBM 7 and MBM 55 X-ray sources

Possible pre-main sequence stars in and around the translucent clouds MBM7 and MBM55 have been identified via their X-ray emission by inspecting ROSAT All-Sky Survey observations of the clouds and environs and ROSAT pointed observations of the high-density cores within the clouds. Follow-up optical spectroscopy of the stellar X-ray sources with V<=15.5mag was conducted with the 1.5-m Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory telescope to identify standard signatures of pre-main sequence stars (LiI {lambda}6708{AA} absorption and H{alpha} emission).

We found 11 stars which have lithium equivalent widths, W(Li), above our detection threshold. Three of the stars with lithium also have weak H{alpha} emission. Relative ages for the stars with lithium are estimated by their position on an W(Li) vs. T_eff_ diagram.