The nuclear torus in the active galaxy NGC 1068

Abstract

We present near-infrared polarized images of the active galaxy NGC 1068. At these wavelengths, the counter-cone is observed in scattered light. At H (1.64 µm) we detect an absorption band across the counter-cone, which we interpret as absorption owing to the postulated torus. From a geometrical analysis we calculate that the torus is at a position angle of 32° ± 3° on the plane of the sky, at an inclination to the line of sight (defined with respect to the polar axis) of 42° ± 4°, with a physical diameter greater than 200 pc. These figures are consistent with those derived from our models for the scattering of nuclear radiation and for the far-infrared emission from the torus.