elliptical galaxies exhibit a very large dispersion of x-ray luminosities for given optical luminosity. x-ray bright galaxies posses a fairly dense ism, and materials being lost by stars can either be in a global outflow or inflow subsonic motion. x-ray faint galaxies are instead likely to host a supersonic wind that effectively evacuates the galaxies of stellar mass loss materials. in the various cases very different thermal histories are expected for the grains forming in the circumstellar shells of mass losing stars. our idea is to observe with iso a representative sample of elliptical galaxies exhibiting extreme x-ray to optical luminosity ratios.
Instrument
CAM01 , PHT37 , PHT39
Temporal Coverage
1996-09-11T01:37:53Z/1996-12-20T11:11:39Z
Version
1.0
Mission Description
The Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) was the worlds 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.
European Space Agency, RENZINI et al., 1999, 'FIR EMISSION IN X-RAY BRIGHT AND X-RAY FAINT EARLY-TYPE GALAXIES. PART 2.', 1.0, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-m8dgk7h
