1998A&A...338L...9R

We present a study of H₂ in the SMC gas, based on Far UV spectroscopy in the line of sight to the SMC star HD 5980. 17 absorption lines from the Lyman band have been analysed. Our line of sight crosses two clouds within the SMC. We detect a cool molecular component near +120km/s, where the H₂ from the lowest 3 rotational states (J≤2) is found. For this cloud we derive an excitation temperature of ≃70K, probably the kinetic temperature of the gas. Another SMC component is visible at +160km/s. Here we find unblended H₂ absorption lines from levels 5≤J≤7. For this component we obtain an equivalent excitation temperature of >2350K and conclude that this cloud must be highly excited by strong UV radiation from its energetic environment.