Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Nov 1992
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1992apj...400l..21b&link_type=abstract
Astrophysical Journal, Part 2 - Letters (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 400, no. 1, p. L21-L24.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
70
Galactic Structure, Opacity, Spiral Galaxies, Abundance, Dark Matter, Optical Thickness
Scientific paper
The opacity of the disks of spiral galaxies can be evaluated by studying the gaseous component in edge-on galaxies in several wavelength regions. By combining data of the galaxy NGC 891 at 21 cm (H I), 2.6 mm (CO), and H-alpha, we show that the outer regions are transparent, while the inner regions, out to the radius to which CO is detected, could be optically thick. For the small galaxy NGC 100, such data indicate that this galaxy is by and large transparent, despite the presence of dust patches in the optical image. These results confirm the claim that spiral galaxies are transparent, at least in the outer parts, and clearly contradict the claim by Valentijn (1991) that the dark matter in spiral galaxies resides in the disk, in the form of absorbing clouds particularly abundant in the outer parts.
Athanassoula Evangelia
Bosma Albert
Byun Youngshin
Freeman Ken C.
No associations
LandOfFree
The opacity of spiral disks 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 The opacity of spiral disks, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The opacity of spiral disks will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1551978