The nuclear torus in the active galaxy NGC 1068.
Abstract
We present near-infrared polarized images of the active galaxy NGC 1068. At these wavelengths, the counter-cone is observed in scattered light. At H (1.64 μm) we detect an absorption band across the counter-cone, which we interpret as absorption owing to the postulated torus. From a geometrical analysis we calculate that the torus is at a position angle of 32°±3° on the plane of the sky, at an inclination to the line of sight (defined with respect to the polar axis) of 42°±4°, with a physical diameter greater than 200 pc. These figures are consistent with those derived from our models for the scattering of nuclear radiation and for the far-infrared emission from the torus.
- Publication:
-
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Pub Date:
- November 1996
- DOI:
- 10.1093/mnras/283.1.L1
- Bibcode:
- 1996MNRAS.283L...1Y
- Keywords:
-
- Seyfert Galaxies: Infrared Images;
- Seyfert Galaxies: Infrared Polarization;
- Active Galactic Nuclei: Infrared Polarization;
- Active Galactic Nuclei: Structure;
- Active Galactic Nuclei: Interstellar Dust;
- polarization -- scattering -- galaxies: individual: NGC 1068 -- galaxies: Seyfert -- infrared: galaxies