Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Mar 1983
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1983apj...266l...5f&link_type=abstract
Astrophysical Journal, Part 2 - Letters to the Editor, vol. 266, Mar. 1, 1983, p. L5-L9.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
28
Galactic Radiation, Interacting Galaxies, X Ray Sources, Heao 2, Spatial Distribution, X Ray Binaries
Scientific paper
The merging galaxies NGC 4038/39 were observed with the imaging proportional counter onboard the Einstein Observatory on two separate occasions, 12 months apart. The X-ray map seems to follow the optical contour of the two 'heads', although a softer X-ray component with a different spatial distribution might be present. The harder component is interpreted as being due to the integrated emission of single X-ray sources (like SNRs and X-ray binaries) in the two interacting galaxies. A harder point-like source might also be present in the contact region. The softer component could be thermal emission of gas heated by the interaction between NGC 4038 and NGC 4039. Moreover, a significant difference was observed between the two exposures. An additional X-ray source is present in the first image, but not in the second. If this source is associated with the Antennae, it could be either a very bright X-ray transient or a recent, optically undetected supernova.
Fabbiano Giuseppina
Trinchieri Ginevra
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