Cool Dust in the Outer Ring of NGC1291
Abstract
We present Herschel Space Observatory images of a nearby outer ring galaxy, NGC 1291, which is part of the KINGFISH Survey. We show that the ring brightens and becomes wider at far-infrared wavelengths. The mass of cool dust in the ring dominates the total dust mass of the galaxy, and the temperature of the dust emission in the ring is cool than that of the inner galaxy. We present several possible explanations for the difference in dust temperature, including one which invokes an age spread in the main morphological features of the galaxy, with the outer ring having formed before the inner lens and bar.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #219
- Pub Date:
- January 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012AAS...21934601H