Two views of the Andromeda Galaxy H-alpha and far infrared

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

65

Andromeda Galaxy, Emission Spectra, Far Infrared Radiation, H Alpha Line, H Ii Regions, Infrared Astronomy, Infrared Imagery, Infrared Spectra, Spaceborne Astronomy, Star Formation, Stellar Luminosity, Astronomical Spectroscopy, Galactic Evolution, Infrared Astronomy Satellite, Infrared Spectroscopy

Scientific paper

A complete H-alpha image of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is presented allowing the first direct measurement of the total H-alpha luminosity which is (7.3 +/- 2.4) x 106 solar luminosity. The H-alpha emission is associated with three morphologically distinct components; a large scale star-forming ring, approximately 1.65 deg in diameter, contributing 66% of the total H-alpha emission, a bright nucleus contributing 6% of the total H-alpha emission with the remaining 28% contributed by a previously unidentified component of extended and filamentary H-alpha emission interior to the star forming ring. The correspondence between the H-alpha image and the Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS) far-infrared high resolution image is striking when both are convolved to a common resolution of 105 arcsec. The close correspondence between the far-infrared and H-alpha images suggests a common origin for the two emissions. The star-forming ring contributes 70% of the far-infrared luminosity of M31. Evidence that the ring emission is energized by high mass stars includes the fact that peaks in the far-infrared emission coincide identically with H II regions in the H-alpha image. In addition, the far-infrared to H-alpha luminosity ratio within the star-forming ring is similar to what one would expect for H II regions powered by stars of spectral types ranging between O9 and B0. The origin of the filamentary H-alpha and far-infrared luminosity interior to the star-forming ring is less clear, but it is almost certainly not produced by high mass stars.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Two views of the Andromeda Galaxy H-alpha and far infrared does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Two views of the Andromeda Galaxy H-alpha and far infrared, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Two views of the Andromeda Galaxy H-alpha and far infrared will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1021575

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.