Deep H{alpha} Observations of NGC 253: a Very Extended and Possibly Declining Rotation Curve?


Abstract in English

This study presents a deep H{alpha} kinematical analysis of the Sculptor Group galaxy NGC253. The Fabry-Perot data were taken with the 36-cm Marseille Telescope in La Silla, Chile, using an EMCCD detector. Typical emission measures of ~0.1 cm^-6 pc are reached. The observations allow the detection of the Diffuse Ionized Gas component through [N II] emission at very large radii of 11.5, 12.8 and 19.0, on the receding side of the galaxy. No H{alpha} emission is observed at radii larger than the neutral component (11.5). The very extended rotation curve confirms previous results and shows signs of a significant decline, on the order of 30 per cent vmax . Using the rotation data, mass models are constructed with and without the outer [N II] data points, and similar results are found. The declining part of the rotation curve is very well modeled, and seems to be truly declining.

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