First detection of molecular gas near the center of M 81.
Abstract
We present ^12^CO J=1-0 observations of 7 positions located in the inner 3 arcminutes of M 81. CO emission was detected at all positions. The peak intensities are less than those previously observed in the outer disk, but the integrated intensity of the center position is a factor of 2.5 stronger than at any position in the outer disk. The mass of molecular gas implied by the CO observations is a very small fraction (~1.7 x 10^-3^) of the dynamical mass within the same region. The CO line velocities are compared to optical and HI velocities and are found to agree well.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- February 1991
- Bibcode:
- 1991A&A...242..371S
- Keywords:
-
- Galactic Nuclei;
- Molecular Gases;
- Spiral Galaxies;
- Astronomical Spectroscopy;
- Carbon Monoxide;
- Emission Spectra;
- Galactic Rotation;
- Astrophysics