CO(2-1) emission from the interacting galaxy pair NGC 3256

Journal Article · Wed Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/185566· OSTI ID:7017757

Sargent, A I; Sanders, D B; Phillips, T G ^[1]

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1. California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (USA)

The J = (2-1) CO emission in the merging galaxy pair NGC 3256 is mapped. Molecular gas is distributed over an area of radius 6 kpc; the CO luminosity, 6.4 x 10 to the 9th K km/s pc squared, puts this galaxy among the group of three or four with the highest gas masses yet found, 3.1 x 10 to the 10th solar mass. Although the total FIR luminosity is large, the L(FIR)/M(H2) ratio is enhanced by a factor of only about 3 compared to gas-rich spirals like the Galaxy. The observations show that the molecular gas in this system is still widely dispersed across the almost completely merged disks. 26 refs.

• OSTI ID: 7017757
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 346; 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
BASIC INTERACTIONS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CONFIGURATION
COSMIC GASES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EMISSION SPECTRA
FAR INFRARED RADIATION
FLUIDS
GALAXIES
GASES
GRAVITATIONAL INTERACTIONS
INFRARED RADIATION
INTERACTIONS
LUMINOSITY
MASS
MILKY WAY
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
SPECTRA
SPIRAL CONFIGURATION
VELOCITY