Star formation in the giant H II regions of M101

The molecular components of three giant H II regions (NGC 5461, NGC 5462, and NGC 5471) in the galaxy M101 are investigated with new observations from single-dish telescopes (James Clerk Maxwell Telescope and the NRAO 12 m) and from the Owens Valley Radio Observatory millimeter array. Of the three H II regions, only NGC 5461 had previously been detected in CO emission. We calculate preliminary values for the molecular mass of the GMCs in NGC …