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Title: VLA neutral hydrogen imaging of compact groups of galaxies. II - HCG 31, 44, and 79

Journal Article · · Astronomical Journal; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/115820· OSTI ID:5515922
; ;  [1]
  1. Delaware, University, Newark (USA) Columbia University, New York (USA)

Neutral hydrogen images of three compact groups of galaxies are presented: HCG 31, 44, and 79. The images were obtained with the very large array (VLA), an on-line Hanning smoothing was applied to the data, and the H I spectral channel was isolated. The images were made on the Pipeline, and were produced by means of a method described by Gorkon and Ekers (1988). The images of HCG 44 are compared with earlier Arecibo observations. The H I emission in HCG 44 is discovered within the galaxies, whereas the emission in 31 and 79 can be found throughout the group in clouds that are larger than the galaxies. Evidence of a relationship between the compact groups is found in the H I data, and the groups are considered to be merging into a single object. Some of the groups are theorized to be young amorphous galaxies where the H I is still bound to individual galaxies, and which have just begun to condense from the intergalactic medium. The kinematics of the gas are shown to vary, and a common gaseous envelope contains the dwarf galaxies. 42 refs.

OSTI ID:
5515922
Journal Information:
Astronomical Journal; (United States), Vol. 101; ISSN 0004-6256
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English