the elliptical galaxy m86 (ngc4406) in the virgo cluster was detected by iras at 60 and 100 mu. the 60 mu detection is offset about 3 arcmin from the centre of the galaxy in the direction of the x-ray plume. this feature is an x-ray extension to the nw considered to be due to the ram-pressure stripping of the hot interstellar medium of the galaxy as it falls through the core of the virgo cluster. the offset infrared emission has then been interpreted by us as dust emission from grains that were embedded in dense cold clouds in the galaxy which are now being disrupted and exposed to the hot interstellar and intracluster gas. m86 therefore provides a unique example in which the various contents of its interstellar medium are spread out away from the body of the galaxy for study. we propose to map the infrared emission with isophot in order to understand the stripping process and the dust content of an elliptical galaxy. the resulting maps will be compared in detail with the x-ray maps.
Instrument
PHT32
Temporal Coverage
1996-06-30T20:51:31Z/1996-07-09T07:54:42Z
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.
