In-Situ Star Formation in the Outskirts of the Large Magellanic Cloud: Gaia DR2 Confirmation

Abstract

We explore the Gaia DR2 proper motions of six young, main-sequence stars, members of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) reported by Moni Bidin et al. (2017). These stars are located in the outskirts of the disk, between 7 and 13 degrees from the LMC's center where there is very low H I content. Gaia DR2 proper motions confirm that four stars formed locally, in situ, while two are consistent with being expelled via dynamical interactions from inner, more gas-rich regions of the LMC. This finding establishes that recent star formation occurred in the periphery of the LMC, where thus far only old populations are known.