Deep ISOPHOT far-infrared imaging of M 86

Free access article

Issue		A&A Volume 397, Number 2, January II 2003


Page(s)		503 - 515
Section		Galactic structure and dynamics
DOI		http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20021496

A&A 397, 503-515 (2003)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20021496

Deep ISOPHOT far-infrared imaging of M 86

M. Stickel¹, J. N. Bregman², A. C. Fabian³, D. A. White³ and D. M. Elmegreen⁴

¹ Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Königstuhl 17, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
² Dept. of Astronomy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1090, USA
³ University of Cambridge, Institute of Astronomy, Madingly Road, Cambridge CB30HA, UK
⁴ Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, USA

(Received 5 June 2002 / Accepted 24 September 2002)

Abstract
Deep far-infrared (FIR) imaging data obtained with ISOPHOT at ${\rm 60\,\mu m}$ , ${\rm 90\,\mu m}$ , ${\rm 150\,\mu m}$ , and ${\rm 180\,\mu m}$ reveal a complex FIR morphology of the Virgo cluster elliptical M 86 (NGC 4406). A close pair of sources is associated with the centre of the M 86 galaxy and optically discovered dust streamers. Both components have a cold FIR spectrum from the thermal emission of dust with a temperature of $\approx$ ${18\,{\rm K}}$ . A compact off-center source lying $\approx$ $3.5\arcmin$ north-west is likely an unrelated background source. The brightest FIR source long-wards of ${\rm 90\,\mu m}$ consists of a compact central core surrounded by an extended halo. It lies close to the nearby spiral galaxy NGC 4402 at the position of the strong northern depression in X-ray brightness. It represents the first detection of an intergalactic dust cloud in the intergalactic region between galaxies. Additionally, three much fainter FIR sources are detected in the field. The ISOPHOT data do not support the earlier suggestion based on IRAS and X-ray data that the unresolved north-western component is cold dust removed from M 86 by ram pressure stripping. The observational evidence suggests that at least for the overall FIR morphology, gravitational interactions between M 86 and neighboring galaxies are much more important than ram stripping of dust. Moreover, the X-ray morphology appears to be partially affected by dusty foreground absorbers. Since M 86 is not showing signs of ongoing stripping of interstellar dust by the intra-cluster medium, a clear case for this dynamical interaction has yet to be found.

Key words: galaxies: individual: M 86 -- galaxies: clusters: general -- intergalactic medium -- infrared: general -- infrared: galaxies -- methods: data analysis

Offprint request: M. Stickel, stickel@mpia-hd.mpg.de

SIMBAD Objects

What is OpenURL?

The OpenURL standard is a protocol for transmission of metadata describing the resource that you wish to access. An OpenURL link contains article metadata and directs it to the OpenURL server of your choice. The OpenURL server can provide access to the resource and also offer complementary services (specific search engine, export of references...). The OpenURL link can be generated by different means.

If your librarian has set up your subscription with an OpenURL resolver, OpenURL links appear automatically on the abstract pages.
You can define your own OpenURL resolver with your EDPS Account. In this case your choice will be given priority over that of your library.
You can use an add-on for your browser (Firefox or I.E.) to display OpenURL links on a page (see http://www.openly.com/openurlref/). You should disable this module if you wish to use the OpenURL server that you or your library have defined.