| Issue |
A&A
Volume 430, Number 2, February I 2005
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Page(s) | 443 - 464 | |
| Section | Extragalactic astronomy | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20047084 | |
| Published online | 20 January 2005 | |
The evolution of HCG 31: Optical and high-resolution HI study *
1
Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, CSIC, Apdo. 3004, 18080 Granada, Spain e-mail: lourdes@iaa.es
2
Department of Astronomy, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
Received:
15
January
2004
Accepted:
28
September
2004
Here we present the results of our new optical imaging and
spectroscopic study and the analysis of new high-resolution HI images
of the Hickson Compact Group HCG 31. Taking advantage of the improved
sensitivity and angular resolution of the new optical and HI images,
we have identified an extensive complex of stellar and HI tidal
features and their kinematics. Our HI study show that H31A and C are
not an advanced merger since their velocity fields can be still
separated and have almost orthogonal orientations. All of the current
sites of ongoing active star formation are shown to be associated with
the highest column density peaks traced in HI. A new companion
A0500-0434 located 240 kpc south of the group center is also
discovered in HI. A detailed scenario for the tidal interactions
involved and the origins of the individual tidal features are
constructed using the morphology and kinematics of the tidal
features. The derived dynamical mass for the entire group is
about 
, which is a few times larger than the
sum of the masses of the individual group galaxies. The ultimate
fate of the group is that HCG 31 is probably on its way to form a
single HI cloud group containing all galaxies.
Key words: galaxies: individual: HCG 31 / galaxies: interactions / galaxies: kinematics and dynamics / galaxies: evolution / galaxies: structure / radio lines: galaxies
Based on observations made with the VLA operated by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (the National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.) and on data taken using ALFOSC, which is owned by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA) and operated at the Nordic Optical Telescope under agreement between IAA and the NBIfA of the Astronomical Observatory of Copenhagen.
© ESO, 2005
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