VLA H I observations of the radio galaxy Centaurus A

Journal Article · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Astronomical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/115456· OSTI ID:6696952

Van Gorkom, J H; Van der Hulst, J M; Haschick, A D; Tubbs, A D ^[1]

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1. National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro, NM (USA) Columbia Univ., New York, NY (USA) Groningen Rijksuniversiteit (Netherlands) Haystack Observatory, Westford, MA (USA) AT T Bell Laboratories, Morristown, NJ (USA)

This paper presents 21-cm line observations made with the VLA of the nearby radio galaxy Centaurus A (NGC 5128). The H I velocities in the inner parts agree well with optical emission-line velocities and indicate that the dust lane is a warped, rotating system. The H I velocities in the outer parts do not agree with this interpretation which may indicate that in the outer regions the gas disk is still unstable and has not yet settled into regular orbits. This then would favor a scenario in which the gas and dust is a recently captured system. The total mass of the galaxy as derived from the H I rotation curve is significantly less than the mass estimate based on X-ray observations. 40 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6696952
• Journal Information: Astronomical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astronomical Journal; (USA) Vol. 99; ISSN 0004-6256; ISSN ANJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABSORPTION SPECTRA
CONFIGURATION
COSMIC DUST
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
DENSITY
DUSTS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELLIPTICAL CONFIGURATION
EMISSION SPECTRA
GALAXIES
H1 REGIONS
MASS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
RADIO GALAXIES
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
SPECTRA