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Far-infrared and submillimeter photometric mapping of spiral galaxies in the Virgo cluster

DOI

16

Citations

0

References

1989

Year

A. A. Stark, J. A. Davidson, Shawn Platt, D. A. Harper, Robert J. Pernic, R. Loewenstein, G. Engargiola, S. C. Casey
The Astrophysical Journal

Abstract

Three "normal" Virgo cluster spiral galaxies, NGC 4254, NGC 4501, and NGC 4654, were mapped at 160 micron and 360 micron wavelengths with arrays of 45" beams using the NASA Kuiper Airborne Observatory and the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility. Another galaxy, NGC 4321, was mapped at 160 microns. The infrared spectra (νS<SUB>nu</SUB>_) peak at ~100 micron wavelength, and the flux density S<SUB>nu</SUB>_ is proportional to ν^1.9^ in the submillimeter, indicating that these galaxies contain few large or cold dust grains. Approximately one-third (26%-42%) of the total flux from the galaxies is emitted at wavelengths longer than 12 microns. The maps show centrally peaked, but spatially extended luminosity distributions consistent with disk material.