A Unique High Spatial Resolution Mid-IR View of the Antennae
Abstract
ISO mid-infrared observations of the prototypical interacting Antennae galaxies (NGC 4038/39) have shown that the most intense starburst takes place in the so-called overlap region hidden at optical wavelengths. This overlap region as revealed by recent high spatial resolution (1-2.6 arcsec) radio observations harbours compact regions of massive star formation mostly unresolved in the ISO observations.
In order to investigate the physical properties of these buried star formation sites and the spatial distribution of mid-infrared emission (dust and PAH) and dust absorption on small scales (< 4.5-6 arcsec corresponding to < 0.4-0.6 kpc) we have undertaken high-spatial resolution imaging of the overlap region with TIMMI2 on the ESO 3.6 m. The first results from this study will be presented here.- Publication:
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IAU Symposium
- Pub Date:
- 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003IAUS..221P..56M