The Tarantula Nebula (a.k.a. 30 Dor) is a spectacular star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), seen through gas in the Galactic disc and halo. Diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) offer a unique probe of the diffuse, cool-warm gas in these regions. The aim is to use DIBs as diagnostics of the local interstellar conditions, whilst at the same time deriving properties of the yet-unknown carriers of these enigmatic spectral features. Spectra of over 800 early-type stars from the Very Large Telescope Flames Tarantula Survey (VFTS) were analysed. Maps were created, separately, for the Galactic and LMC absorption in the DIBs at 4428 and 6614{AA} and - in a smaller region near the central cluster R 136 - neutral sodium (the NaI D doublet); we also measured the DIBs at 5780 and 5797{AA}.

Cone search capability for table J/A+A/550/A108/tablea3 (Equivalent widths of the Galactic and LMC components of the 4428{AA} Diffuse Interstellar Band, obtained with the ARGUS mode of VLT-FLAMES)

Cone search capability for table J/A+A/550/A108/tablea2 (Equivalent widths of the Galactic and LMC components of the 4428 and 6614{AA} Diffuse Interstellar Bands, obtained with the Medusa mode of VLT-VFLAMES)

Cone search capability for table J/A+A/550/A108/tablea4 (Equivalent widths of the Galactic and LMC components of the 4428, 5780 and 5797{AA} Diffuse Interstellar Bands, obtained with the UVES mode of VLT-FLAMES)