The central 15' of the M17 H II region-molecular cloud complex has been mapped with 1' resolution simultaneously at 30, 50, and 100 tLm. The data suggest that the bulk of the luminosity radiated in the far-infrared is supplied by the exciting stars of the H II region; the far-infrared radiation is thermal emission from dust grains located chiefly outside the ionized gas. Large-scale systematic gradients in both the temperature and the column density of the dust are seen across the source. The appearance of the source in the far-infrared reflects the markedly nonuniform distribution of matter around the exciting stars; the H II region is bounded by the molecular cloud to the southwest. The core of the molecular cloud is heated primarily by infrared radiation from dust within and adjacent to the H II region; no evidence is seen for substantial luminosity sources embedded within the molecular cloud. Subject headings: infrared: sources - interstellar: matter - interstellar: molecules - nebulae: individual
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Gatley et al. (1979) studied this question.