we propose to measure the continuum emission between 5 microns and 200 microns from a sample of 35 nearby elliptical galaxies selected to cover a wide range of properties. the goals of this work are: (1) to measure the properties of interstellar dust in elliptical galaxies (grain size spectrum, long wavelength emissivity): (2) to measure the rate of injection of dust into the ism by dying stars: and (3) to measure the total interstellar dust content and its distribution. together, these observations allow an investigation of the origin and evolution of the cold ism in ellipticals. in addition, we will use millimeter and radio wavelength observations of interstellar gas to measure the gas to dust ratio and x ray data to examine the balances among hot gas, cold gas, and star formation. finally, the amount of ism in a small sample of radio elliptical galaxies will be measured, plus the strength and properties of infrared emission from the active nucleus.
Instrument
CAM01 , PHT03 , PHT32
Temporal Coverage
1996-07-09T11:55:39Z/1997-11-24T06:59:53Z
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.
