Infrared mapping of M82 - A starburst in an edge-on barred galaxy

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/169744· OSTI ID:5867615

Telesco, C M; Joy, M; Dietz, K; Decher, R; Campins, H ^[1]

---

1. NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL (USA) Florida Univ., Gainesville (USA)

New 1-30-micron images of the starburst galaxy M82 are presented. The appearance of M82 at 2 microns indicates that a bar about 1 kpc long is located at its center. This bar may dramatically influence the gas dynamics and may have caused the formation of the central gas and dust toroid associated with the luminous episode of star formation. The mid-IR maps define the structure of the toroid out to 30 microns and show that the extent of the emitting region is at least 1.3 kpc. The absorption optical depth determined from 1-2 micron colors corresponds to A(v) less than about 8 and is distributed in a ridge spanning the starburst region and closely resembling the distribution of H I optical depth. Finally, the contribution that very small grains may make to the 10-micron emission is considered, and it is concluded, by comparison to Galactic H II regions, that their mid-IR emission is significant. 88 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5867615
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 369; 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
COSMIC GASES
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
DYNAMICS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FLUIDS
GALAXIES
GASES
H1 REGIONS
H2 REGIONS
IMAGES
INFRARED RADIATION
INTERSTELLAR GRAINS
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
LUMINOSITY
MECHANICS
MORPHOLOGY
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PARTICLES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
SPACE
STAR EVOLUTION