VV 114, High Infrared Luminosity Interacting Galaxy System
Abstract
VV 114 is a nearby example of a far-infrared bright, high luminosity (L_FIR_ > 10^11^ L_sun_) interacting galaxy pair. At a redshift of z = 0.02 it provides an opportunity to study such interacting galaxies at a favorable spatial scale (390 pc arcsec^-1^). This paper presents new high resolution near-infrared (1.25-3.7 micron) and visible images, and visible spectra of VV 114. A picture emerges of a system with widespread massive star formation throughout both interacting galaxies. The brighter visible galaxy (VV 114W) shows H II region-like emission in both visual spectra and near-infrared colors, with no more than two magnitudes of visual extinction. The brightest peak of infrared and radio emission (VV 114E) has extreme near-infrared colors and is located at a minimum of visible emission. This indicates a large concentration of dust in the nucleus of VV 114E that is nearly entirely obscuring a major luminosity source in this system.
- Publication:
-
The Astronomical Journal
- Pub Date:
- March 1994
- DOI:
- 10.1086/116906
- Bibcode:
- 1994AJ....107..920K
- Keywords:
-
- Infrared Astronomy;
- Infrared Radiation;
- Interacting Galaxies;
- Light (Visible Radiation);
- Stellar Spectra;
- Astronomical Observatories;
- Cameras;
- Charge Coupled Devices;
- Data Reduction;
- Infrared Detectors;
- Optical Filters;
- Spectrometers;
- Telescopes;
- Astronomy;
- GALAXIES: INDIVIDUAL: VV 114;
- GALAXIES: INTERACTIONS;
- INFRARED: GALAXIES