VLA observations of OH in galaxies. I. NGC 253 and its nuclear plume

Journal Article · Sun Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/163702· OSTI ID:5936564

Turner, B E

The distribution of emission and absorption has been mapped in all four 18 cm lines of OH in the nuclear regions of NGC 253, using the VLA with a resolution of 17''.7 x 9''.5. A steep rotation curve is found over the inner 150 pc radius, yielding a nuclear mass of approx.5 x 10/sup 8/ M/sub sun/, the same as found from IR observations. The absorbing gas covers a range of 60--550 km s/sup -1/, wider than seen optically or as yet in H I. Clumping of the absorbing gas implies individual entities approx.20 pc in size, suggestive of giant molecular clouds in the Milky Way. The absorbing gas appears to be distributed in a toroid of mean radius 170 pc centered on the nucleus.

• Research Organization: National Radio Astronomy Observatory
• OSTI ID: 5936564
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 299:1; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABSORPTION
AMPLIFIERS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
COSMIC GASES
COSMOCHEMISTRY
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EMISSION
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EQUIPMENT
EXCITATION
FLUIDS
GALAXIES
GALAXY NUCLEI
GASES
HYDROXYL RADICALS
INTERFEROMETRY
MAPS
MASERS
MASS
MICROWAVE AMPLIFIERS
MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT
MORPHOLOGY
RADICALS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION