  Aims. Motivated by the new determination of the distance to the microquasar
GRO J1655-40 by Foellmi et al. (2006), we conduct a detailed study of the
distribution of the atomic and molecular gas, and dust around the open cluster
NGC 6242, the possible birth place of the microquasar. The proximity and
relative height of the cluster on the galactic disk provides a unique
opportunity to study SNR evolution and its possible physical link with
microquasar formation. Methods. We search in the interstellar atomic and
molecular gas around NGC 6242 for traces that may have been left from a
supernova explosion associated to the formation of the black hole in GRO
J1655-40. Furthermore, the 60/100 mu IR color is used as a tracer of
shocked-heated dust. Results. At the kinematical distance of the cluster the
observations have revealed the existence of a HI hole of 1.5*1.5 degrees in
diameter and compressed CO material acumulated along the south-eastern internal
border of the HI cavity. In this same area, we found extended infrared emission
with characteristics of shocked-heated dust. Based on the HI, CO and FIR
emissions, we suggest that the cavity in the ISM was produced by a supernova
explosion occured within NGC 6242. The lower limit to the kinematic energy
transferred by the supernova shock to the surrounding interstellar medium is ~
10^{49} erg and the atomic and molecular mass displaced to form the cavity of ~
16.500 solar masses. The lower limit to the time elapsed since the SN explosion
is ~ 2.2*10^{5} yr, which is consistent with the time required by GRO J1655-40
to move from the cluster up to its present position. The observations suggest
that GRO J1655-40 could have been born inside NGC 6242, being one of the
nearest microquasars known so far.

Astrophysics