We propose to use the SPIRE and PACS instruments on Herschel to measure the emission spectrum from dust as well as important cooling lines from the gaseous interstellar medium in sample of 13 very nearby galaxies (M51, M81, NGC2403, NGC891, M83, M82, Arp220, NGC4038/39, NGC1068, NGC4151, CenA, NGC4125, and NGC205). These galaxies have been chosen to probe as wide a region in galaxy parameter space as possible while maximizing the achievable spatial resolution and are already well-studied from X-ray and optical through to radio wavelengths. The far-infrared and submillimeter wavelengths probed by Herschel are absolutely crucial for understanding the physical processes and properties of the interstellar medium,the interplay between star formation and the interstellar medium in galaxies, and how they may depend on the wider galaxian environment.
Publication
DustPedia: Multiwavelength photometry and imagery of 875 nearby galaxies in 42 ultraviolet-microwave bands . Clark C. J. R. et al. . Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 609, id.A37, 30 pp. . 609 . 10.1051\/0004-6361\/201731419 . 2018A&A...609A..37C , Cold Dust but Warm Gas in the Unusual Elliptical Galaxy NGC 4125 . Wilson C. D. et al. . The Astrophysical Journal Letters, Volume 776, Issue 2, article id. L30, 5 pp. (2013). . 776 . 10.1088\/2041-8205\/776\/2\/L30 . 2013ApJ...776L..30W , Reproducing the Universe: a comparison between the EAGLE simulations and the nearby DustPedia galaxy sample . Trčka Ana et al. . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society . null . null . 2020MNRAS.494.2823T , Dust emissivity and absorption cross section in DustPedia late-type galaxies . Bianchi S. et al. . Astronomy and Astrophysics . null . null . 2019A&A...631A.102B , Star Formation Bimodality in Early-type Galaxies . Amblard A. et al. . The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 783, Issue 2, article id. 135, 31 pp. (2014). . 783 . 10.1088\/0004-637X\/783\/2\/135 . 2014ApJ...783..135A , DustPedia: the relationships between stars, gas, and dust for galaxies residing in different environments . Davies J. I. et al. . Astronomy and Astrophysics . null . null . 2019A&A...626A..63D , Old and young stellar populations in DustPedia galaxies and their role in dust heating . Nersesian A. et al. . Astronomy and Astrophysics . null . null . 2019A&A...624A..80N , Updated 34-band Photometry for the Sings/KINGFISH Samples of Nearby Galaxies . Dale D. A. et al. . The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 837, Issue 1, article id. 90, 20 pp.... (2017). . 837 . 10.3847\/1538-4357\/aa6032 . 2017ApJ...837...90D , Fraction of bolometric luminosity absorbed by dust in DustPedia galaxies . Bianchi S. et al. . Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 620, id.A112, 21 pp. . 620 . 10.1051\/0004-6361\/201833699 . 2018A&A...620A.112B , UV to submillimetre luminosity functions of TNG50 galaxies . Trčka Ana et al. . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society . null . null . 2022MNRAS.516.3728T , Local Swift-BAT active galactic nuclei prefer circumnuclear star formation . Lutz D. et al. . Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 609, id.A9, 7 pp. . 609 . 10.1051\/0004-6361\/201731423 . 2018A&A...609A...9L , DustPedia: A Definitive Study of Cosmic Dust in the Local Universe . Davies J. I. et al. . Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Volume 129, Issue 974, pp. 044102 (2017). . 129 . 10.1088\/1538-3873\/129\/974\/044102 . 2017PASP..129d4102D ,
Herschel was launched on 14 May 2009! It is the fourth 'cornerstone' mission in the ESA science programme. With a 3.5 m Cassegrain telescope it is the largest space telescope ever launched. It is performing photometry and spectroscopy in approximately the 55-671 µm range, bridging the gap between earlier infrared space missions and groundbased facilities.
European Space Agency, 2013, Physical Processes In The Interstellar Medium Of Very Nearby Galaxies, SPG v14.2.0, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-7decupi