Microwave detection of interstellar NO

Abstract

The strongest hyperfine component of each of the two 2 Pi 1/2, J = 3/2 = 1/2 rotational transitions of (N-14)(O-16) at 150.2 and 150.5 GHz has been detected toward Sgr B2(OH). A column density of approximately 2 x 10 to the 16th power per sq cm and a relative abundance of the order of one hundred millionth are inferred. These results are taken to indicate that nitric oxide is a fairly abundant molecular constituent of Sgr B2(OH).