Leo Triplet spiral galaxy NGC 3628. I. VLA observations of the neutral hydrogen absorption
Hydrogen absorption is observed against the nuclear region of NGC 3628, an edge-on spiral galaxy in the Leo Triplet. VLA observations against the extended continuum reveal approximately 10 individual H I features which are resolved both spatially and in velocity space. A circular, rotating disk is identified as well as several lower velocity features which seem to form a second structure. This may be an expanding spiral arm, similar to the 3 kpc arm in the Galaxy, or a second disk which is either expanding with respect to the primary disk or elliptical in shape. All of the features are optically thick with tau roughly 1 in many cases.Estimated densities are high with n(HI+) greater than 100/cu cm and M roughly 100,000 solar masses for a typical feature. The high degree of activity in this galaxy, which includes complex hydroxyl absorption and H I extensions in the form of plumes and bridges, may have been triggered by a tidal encounter with NGC 3627, a second spiral in the triplet. 21 references.
- Research Organization:
- Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park; Arecibo Observatory, PR; Haystack Observatory, Westford, MA
- OSTI ID:
- 5929894
- Journal Information:
- Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 315; ISSN ASJOA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABSORPTION
ABSORPTION SPECTRA
BASIC INTERACTIONS
CONFIGURATION
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
GALAXIES
GALAXY NUCLEI
GRAVITATIONAL INTERACTIONS
H1 REGIONS
INTERACTIONS
MAPS
MASS
MORPHOLOGY
NEBULAE
SPECTRA
SPECTROSCOPY
SPIRAL CONFIGURATION