Infrared studies of 30 Doradus. I - The 2-micron sources of the inner region

Abstract

A 2-micron survey of the central region of 30 Doradus has revealed a significant population of M supergiants intermingled with the well-known bright WN and OB stars. The results suggest that the 30 Doradus region has undergone two major bursts of star formation in the last 10 million yr.