SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL AEROSPACE REPORTS

A Biweekly Publication of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
VOLUME 44, ISSUE 4 - FEBRUARY 24, 2006

90 ASTROPHYSICS
Includes cosmology; celestial mechanics; space plasmas; and interstellar and interplanetary gases and dust.

20060005848

FOUR IRREGULAR GALAXY WITH MULTIPLE GAS CONDENSATION

November 2005; 3 pp. Contract(s)/Grant(s): NAG5-13547; No Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A01, Hardcopy

The first cluster, ABELL 1314, centered at 1lh34m48.7s+49d02m25s, is a nearby cluster (z=0.0335). The cluster is clearly dynamically young with the X-ray peak north of the cD galaxy IC 712. At least five cluster galaxies are detected and bright in X-rays. The XMM observation is free of contaminating background flares, and has a clean exposure of 18.0 ks for MOS1/2 and 14.4 ks for PN. About 79000 counts in total (0.3-8 keV) are collected from the three instruments. We have examined the X-ray emission of the cluster galaxies, IC 712, IC 708 and IC 711. All three galaxies are radio head-tail galaxies, and the tail of IC 708 is especially dramatic with a 180 deg turn. Thermal soft X-ray emission, plus hard emission from the nucleus, is detected from all three galaxies. We plan to include the results of our analysis as part of our sample study of radio galaxies in nearby clusters. The work on the diffuse cluster emission is ongoing. The second target, ABELL 1589, centered at 12h4lm35.8~ +18d35m33s, lies at a redshift of z=0.07357. The X-ray emission peaks on the central galaxy MCG+03-32-084. After removing background flares, the clean exposures are: 17.0 ks for MOS1/2 and 9.0 ks for PN. About 37000 counts in total (0.3-8 keV) are collected from the three instruments. A radio head-tail source 4C +18.35, associated with the elliptical galaxy 2MASXi J1241003+183313 (z=0.0739), was discovered by Owen, White & Ge (1993). It is detected as an X-ray point-like source, but with a thermal emission spectrum. We plan to include it in our sample study of radio galaxies in nearby clusters. At least three other member galaxies are also detected in X-rays. There is an edge-like feature to the south of the cluster core, which indicates motion of the gas core. The work on the diffuse cluster emission is ongoing. Author

Elliptical Galaxies; Emission Spectra; Galactic Clusters

Source: NASA