Distribution and kinematics of H I in the active elliptical galaxy NGC 1052

Journal Article · Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · Astron. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/114060· OSTI ID:6060240

van Gorkom, J H; Knapp, G R; Raimond, E; Faber, S M; Gallagher, J S

The H I distribution in the active elliptical galaxy NGC 1052 has been mapped at a resolution of 1 arcmin with the VLA. The H I structure is about three times the size of the optical galaxy and is roughly perpendicular to its major axis. The H I has a circular velocity of approx.200 km/s, roughly constant with radius; the mass of the galaxy is 1.5 x 10/sup 11/ M/sub sun/ at a radius of 16 kpc (D = 13.4 Mpc), and the mass to blue luminosity ratio at this radius is M/L/sub B/ approx.15 M/sub sun//L/sub sun/. H I absorption is seen against the central radio continuum source, at both the systemic velocity and at redshifted velocities. The gas in NGC 1052, as in other ellipticals, has a rotation axis that is not aligned with the stellar rotation axis (the difference is 63/sup 0/) and a mean specific angular momentum that is considerably larger than that of the stars. The H I distribution is unusually irregular. In the southwest region of the galaxy, the distribution shows what appears to be a tidal tail, suggesting that the H I may have been acquired about 10/sup 9/ years ago. The presence of dust associated with the H I and the distribution and kinematics of the H I are consistent with capture of gas from a gas-rich dwarf or spiral. In the inner regions of the galaxy (r<5 kpc) the H I velocity field shows evidence of noncircular orbits and therefore possibly of a triaxial mass distribution for the galaxy. Alternatively the gas could be falling in toward the center.

• Research Organization: National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro, New Mexico 87801 and
• OSTI ID: 6060240
• Journal Information: Astron. J.; (United States), Vol. 91:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
GALAXIES
MASS DISTRIBUTION
ACCRETION DISKS
COSMIC GASES
GALACTIC EVOLUTION
HYDROGEN
LUMINOSITY
MORPHOLOGY
RADIO GALAXIES
RED SHIFT
VELOCITY
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
NONMETALS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
640105* - Astrophysics &amp; Cosmology- Galaxies