Merging Cold Fronts in the Galaxy Pair NGC 7619 and NGC 7626
Abstract
We present results from Chandra observations of the galaxy pair NGC 7619 and NGC 7626, the two dominant members of the Pegasus group. The X-ray images show a brightness edge associated with each galaxy, which we identify as merger cold fronts. The edges are sharp, and the axes of symmetry of the edges are roughly antiparallel, suggesting that these galaxies are falling toward one another in the plane of the sky. The detection of merger cold fronts in each of the two dominant member galaxies implies a merging subgroup scenario, since the alternative is that the galaxies are falling into a preexisting ~1 keV halo without a dominant galaxy of its own, and such objects are not observed. We estimate the three-dimensional velocities from the cold fronts and, using the observed radial velocities of the galaxies, show that the velocity vectors are indeed most likely close to the plane of the sky, with a relative velocity of ~1190 km s-1. The relative velocity is consistent with what is expected from the infall of two roughly equal mass subgroups whose total viral mass equals that of the Pegasus group. We conclude that the Pegasus cluster is most likely currently forming from a major merger of two subgroups, dominated by NGC 7619 and NGC 7626. NGC 7626 contains a strong radio source, consisting of a core with two symmetric jets, and radio lobes. Although we find no associated structure in the X-ray surface brightness map, the temperature map reveals a clump of cool gas just outside the southern lobe, presumably entrained by the lobe, and possibly an extension of cooler gas into the lobe itself. The jet axis is parallel with the projected direction of motion of NGC 7626 (inferred from the symmetry axis of the merger cold front), and the southern leading jet is foreshortened as compared to the northern trailing one, possibly due to the additional ram pressure encountered by the forward jet.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- May 2009
- DOI:
- 10.1088/0004-637X/696/2/1431
- arXiv:
- arXiv:0811.1217
- Bibcode:
- 2009ApJ...696.1431R
- Keywords:
-
- galaxies: clusters: general;
- galaxies: clusters: individual: Pegasus U842;
- galaxies: individual: NGC 7619 NGC 7626;
- X-rays: galaxies;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 11 pages, 9 figures. Accepted to ApJ. Minor changes to be consistent with accepted version