NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Collections About News Help Login
Back to Results
The FCRAO extragalactic CO survey: Global properties of galaxiesSince stars form in molecular clouds, a critical element in studies of galaxy evolution is knowledge of the molecular content of a large sample of galaxies. To this end, researchers undertook a survey of CO emission from galaxies using the Fire College Radio Astronomy Observatory (FCRAO) 14-m millimeter telescope at 115 GHz. The aim was to better understand the differences found among and within galaxies with regard to the efficiency of star and cloud formation. The galaxies observed as part of the FCRAO Extragalactic CO Survey were selected on the basis of their optical or infrared properties. The galaxies observed thus far are (1) brighter than B sub T (sub o)=12.5 in the blue, or (2) brighter than 20 Jy at 100 microns. From major axis CO observations at 45 seconds resolution and spacing in over 200 galaxies, researchers determined the CO radial distributions, and derived global CO fluxes (cf. Kenney and Young 1988); H2 masses were derived using the conversion factor N(H2)/I sub CO=2.8 times 10 to the 20th power cm(-2)/K km s(-1)) (Bloemen et al. 1986). Here, researchers concentrate on the global galaxy properties within the sample. Neutral hydrogen (HI) masses for the sample galaxies were taken from Huchtmeier et al. (1983), blue luminosities and morphological types were taken from RC2. IR luminosities, colors, dust temperatures and dust masses were determined from coadded Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS) data (Young et al. 1989). They have chosen to first compare absolute luminosities and masses in order to determine the slope and scatter in each correlation; next they investigate luminosity independent ratios in order to intercompare large and small galaxies.
Document ID
19910004804
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Young, J. S. (Massachusetts Univ. Amherst, MA, United States)
Claussen, M. (Massachusetts Univ. Amherst, MA, United States)
Devereux, Nicholas A. (Massachusetts Univ. Amherst, MA, United States)
Huang, Y. (Massachusetts Univ. Amherst, MA, United States)
Kenney, J. D. (Massachusetts Univ. Amherst, MA, United States)
Knezek, Patricia M. (Massachusetts Univ. Amherst, MA, United States)
Tacconi, L. (Massachusetts Univ. Amherst, MA, United States)
Tacconi-Garman, L. (Massachusetts Univ. Amherst, MA, United States)
Schloerb, F. P. (Massachusetts Univ. Amherst, MA, United States)
Viscuso, P. (Massachusetts Univ. Amherst, MA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 1990
Publication Information
Publication: NASA, Ames Research Center, The Interstellar Medium in External Galaxies: Summaries of Contributed Papers
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
91N14117
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

Related Records

There are no records associated with this record.
No Preview Available