High-resolution observations of SN 1989 M - The interstellar medium in NGC 4579

Journal Article · Tue May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Astronomical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/115431· OSTI ID:6710116

Steidel, C C; Rich, R M; Mccarthy, J K ^[1]

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1. California Univ., Berkeley (USA) Columbia Univ., NY (USA) Texas Univ., Austin (USA)

High-resolution, high S/N spectroscopy of SN 1989M is presented, which allows a detailed study of the interstellar gas in the host galaxy, NGC 4579, a gas-poor spiral near the center of the Virgo Cluster. Four discrete velocity components in Na I and Ca II identified with NGC 4579, with the dominant component at v(h) = 1382 km/s, are identified. It is suggested that this dominant component arises in the H I disk of the galaxy; however, H I observations of NGC 4579 suggest that N (H I) may be as small as 3 x 10 to the 19th/sq cm along the line of sight to the supernova. It is found that the diffuse interstellar bands may be present at a very low level at the redshift of NGC 4579, implying that there is only a small amount of reddening along the line of sight to the supernova. The observed kinematics of the absorption may be typical of lines of sight through the outer parts of the disk of normal, i.e., not gas-poor, spiral galaxies. 21 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6710116
• 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
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GENERAL PHYSICS
ABSORPTION SPECTRA
CHARGE-COUPLED DEVICES
CONFIGURATION
COSMIC GASES
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
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FLUIDS
GALAXIES
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SPECTROSCOPY
SPIRAL CONFIGURATION
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