Detection of CO emission in the elliptical galaxies NGC 3265 and NGC 5666

Journal Article · Mon Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Astrophysical Journal; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/169919· OSTI ID:5468831

Gordon, M A ^[1]

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1. National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Tucson, AZ (USA)

From observations of seven elliptical galaxies selected by the strength of their far-infrared (FIR) fluxes, the detection of CO (2 - 1) in the central regions of NGC 3265 and NGC 5666, classified as E4 and Ec, respectively, is reported. Observed with the FWHM beam of 17 arcsec of the IRAM telescope, the CO radial velocities and line widths agree well with H I spectra emitted from a much more extended region, caused partly by rigid rotation in their nuclear regions but also implying a contribution from extensive noncircular motions in the interstellar gas. The shapes of the CO profiles indicate velocity structure within the beam. The observational ratios of CO/H I fluxes are similar to those found in early-type galaxies. The data also imply H2 masses of 1.7 {times} 10 to the 8th and 3.8 {times} 10 to the 8th solar masses for the central regions of NGC 3265 and NGC 5666, respectively, giving for those regions H2/H I mass ratios of about three that are comparable to what is observed for the inner region of the Milky Way. 29 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5468831
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (United States) Vol. 371; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
CONFIGURATION
COSMIC GASES
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
COSMOCHEMISTRY
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELLIPTICAL CONFIGURATION
EMISSION SPECTRA
FAR INFRARED RADIATION
FLUIDS
FLUX DENSITY
GALAXIES
GALAXY NUCLEI
GASES
H1 REGIONS
H2 REGIONS
INFRARED RADIATION
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
MASS
MILKY WAY
MOTION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIATIONS
ROTATION
SPACE
SPECTRA