NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
GALEX Wide-field Ultraviolet Imaging of NGC 5128 (Centaurus-A)We present new wide-field ultraviolet (UV) observations of the nearby active galaxy NGC 5128 (Centaurus A). The GALEX images provide 3.5 sec - 5.5 sec resolution over a 1.2 degree field, in two broad bands (1350- 1800A and 1800-3000A, centered at 1550A and 2200A). We detect ultraviolet emission associated with the radio and X-ray jets in both bands, extending out to a distance of approx. 40kpc from the galaxy nucleus. We compare the radio, X-ray, and UV jets, and discuss the feasibility of jet-induced star formation. We show how the UV emission relates to the optical filaments: HI and CO clouds, stellar shells, X-ray arcs, and young star chains previously reported by other authors. In the central region of NGC 5128, we detect UV emission from young super-star-clusters and associated ionized gas located along the near edge and on the upper surface of the dusty warped disk. All of the UV emission in the galaxy appears to result from intense star formation in the disk; none appears to be associated with the old stellar population of the main galaxy body, and no UV emission from the AGN is detected. We estimate the numbers and ages of the massive young stars present, and the associated ionized gas masses. Finally, we compare Cen-A to high redshift radio galaxies which were much more numerous in the earlier universe. The GALEX satellite is a NASA Small Explorer, launched in April 2003. We gratefully acknowledge NASA's support for construction, operation, and science analysis for the GALEX mission.
Document ID
20040171834
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Neff, S. G.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Shiminovich, D.
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Martin, C. D.
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 22, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2004
Subject Category
Astronomy
Meeting Information
Meeting: American Astronomical Society Meeting
Location: Atlanta, GA
Country: United States
Start Date: January 4, 2004
End Date: January 8, 2004
Sponsors: American Astronomical Society
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available