elliptical galaxies have hot x-ray emitting atmospheres but practically no cold gas, so it came as a surprise that they are often iras sources. there are two likely explanations for the origin and heating of the dust that emits this infrared radiation. the dust may be in a low-mass disk of neutral gas near the center of the galaxy and is heated by starlight. alternatively, the dust is shed by stars during stellar evolution and heated by collisions with the ambient hot x-ray emitting gas or by starlight. these different possibilities have distinctive signatures in the extent and shape of infrared emission as well as the presence or absence of the pah bands. we propose to determine the origin and heating of the dust by obtaining cam images of 11 x-ray emitting elliptical galaxies. by using multiple narrow filters in the 5-17 micron range we will be able to separate the pah component as well as establish the shape and extent of the emission.
Instrument
CAM01
Temporal Coverage
1997-05-06T04:29:53Z/1998-03-12T14:28:56Z
Version
1.0
Mission Description
The Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) was the world's first true orbiting infrared observatory. Equipped with four highly-sophisticated and versatile scientific instruments, it was launched by Ariane in November 1995 and provided astronomers world-wide with a facility of unprecedented sensitivity and capabilities for a detailed exploration of the Universe at infrared wavelengths.
