MSX, 2MASS, and the Large Magellanic Cloud: A Combined Near- and Mid-Infrared View

The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) has been observed by the Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) in the mid-infrared and the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) in the near-infrared. We have performed a cross-correlation of the 1806 MSX catalog sources and nearly 1.4 million 2MASS cataloged point and extended sources and find 1664 matches. Using the available color information, we identify a number of stellar populations and nebulae, including main-sequence stars, giant stars, red supergiants, carbon- and oxygen-rich asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, planetary nebulae, H II regions, and other dusty objects likely associated with early-type stars. A total of 731 of these sources have no previous identification. We compile a listing of all objects, which includes photometry and astrometry. The 8.3 μm MSX sensitivity is the limiting factor for object detection: only the brighter red objects, specifically the red supergiants, AGB stars, planetary nebulae, and H II regions, are detected in the LMC. The remaining objects are likely in the Galactic foreground. The spatial distribution of the infrared LMC sources may contribute to understanding stellar formation and evolution and the overall galactic evolution. We demonstrate that a combined mid- and near-infrared photometric baseline provides a powerful means of identifying new objects in the LMC for future ground-based and space-based follow-up observations.