The Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory CO mapping survey of the Taurus molecular cloud

The FCRAO Survey of the Taurus molecular cloud observed the 12CO and 13CO J = 1–0 emission from 98 deg2 of this important, nearby, star-forming region. This set of data with 45\u27\u27 resolution comprises the highest spatial dynamic range image of an individual molecular cloud constructed to date and provides valuable insights to the molecular gas distribution, kinematics, and the star formation process. In this contribution, we describe the observations, calibration, data processing, and characteristics of the noise and line emission of the survey. The angular distribution of 12CO and 13CO emission over 1 km s−1 velocity intervals and the full velocity extent of the cloud are presented. These reveal a complex, dynamic medium of cold, molecular gas