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Register a new userThe HI environment of the M101 group
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We present a wide (8.5x6.7 degree, 1050x825 kpc), deep (sigma(N_HI)=10^(16.8-17.5) cm^-2) neutral hydrogen (HI) map of the M101 galaxy group. We identify two new HI sources in the group environment, one an extremely low surface brightness (and hitherto unknown) dwarf galaxy, and the other a starless HI cloud, possibly primordial in origin. Our data show that M101s extended HI envelope (Huchtmeier & Witzel 1979) takes the form of a ~100 kpc long tidal loop or plume of HI extending to the southwest of the galaxy. The plume has an HI mass ~ 10^8 Msun and a peak column density of N_HI=5x10^17 cm^-2, and while it rotates with the main body of M101, it shows kinematic peculiarities suggestive of a warp or flaring out of the rotation plane of the galaxy. We also find two new HI clouds near the plume with masses ~ 10^7 Msun, similar to HI clouds seen in the M81/M82 group, and likely also tidal in nature. Comparing to deep optical imaging of the M101 group, neither the plume nor the clouds have any extended optical counterparts down to a limiting surface brightness of mu_B = 29.5. We also trace HI at intermediate velocities between M101 and NGC 5474, strengthening the case for a recent interaction between the two galaxies. The kinematically complex HI structure in the M101 group, coupled with the optical morphology of M101 and its companions, suggests that the group is in a dynamically active state that is likely common for galaxies in group environments.
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We present a new high-sensitivity HI observation toward nearby spiral galaxy M101 and its adjacent 2$^{circ}times$ 2$^{circ}$ region using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). From the observation, we detect a more extended and asymmetric HI disk around M101. While the HI velocity field within the M101s optical disk region is regular, indicating that the relatively strong disturbance occurs in its outer disk. Moreover, we identify three new HI clouds located on the southern edge of the M101s HI disk. The masses of the three HI clouds are 1.3$times$10$^{7}$ $M_{odot}$, 2.4$times$10$^{7}$ $M_{odot}$, and 2.0$times$10$^{7}$ $M_{odot}$, respectively. The HI clouds similar to dwarf companion NGC 5477 rotate with the HI disk of M101. Unlike the NGC 5477, they have no optical counterparts. Furthermore, we detect a new HI tail in the extended HI disk of M101. The HI tail detected gives a reliable evidence for M101 interaction with the dwarf companion NGC 5474. We argue that the extra-planar gas (three HI clouds) and the HI tail detected in the M101s disk may origin from a minor interaction with NGC 5474.
We present the results of a deep survey of the nearby Sculptor group and the associated Sculptor filament taken with the Parkes 64-m radio telescope in the 21-cm emission line of neutral hydrogen. We detect 31 HI sources in the Sculptor group/filament, eight of which are new HI detections. We derive a slope of the HI mass function along the Sculptor filament of $alpha = -1.10^{+0.20}_{-0.11}$, which is significantly flatter than the global mass function and consistent with the flat slopes previously found in other low-density group environments. Some physical process, such as star formation, photoionisation or ram-pressure stripping, must therefore be responsible for removing neutral gas predominantly from low-mass galaxies. All of our HI detections have a confirmed or tentative optical counterpart and are likely associated with luminous rather than dark galaxies. Despite a column density sensitivity of about $4 times 10^{17}~mathrm{cm}^{-2}$, we do not find any traces of extragalactic gas or tidal streams, suggesting that the Sculptor filament is, at the current time, a relatively quiescent environment that has not seen any recent major interactions or mergers.
We have conducted an HI 21 cm emission-line survey of six loose groups of galaxies chosen to be analogs to the Local Group. The survey was conducted using the Parkes Multibeam instrument and the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) over a ~1 Mpc^2 area and covering the full depth of each group, with a M(HI) sensitivity of ~7x10^5 M(sun). Our survey detected 110 sources, 61 of which are associated with the six groups. All of these sources were confirmed with ATCA observations or were previously cataloged by HIPASS. The sources all have optical counterparts and properties consistent with dwarf irregular or late-type spiral galaxies. We present here the HI properties of the groups and their galaxies. We derive an HI mass function for the groups that is consistent with being flatter than the equivalent field HIMF. We also derive a circular velocity distribution function, tracing the luminous dark matter halos in the groups, that is consistent with those of the Local Group and HIPASS galaxies, both of which are shallower than that of clusters or predictions from CDM models of galaxy formation.
We present near infra-red light curves of supernova (SN) 2011fe in M101, including 34 epochs in H band starting fourteen days before maximum brightness in the B-band. The light curve data were obtained with the WIYN High-Resolution Infrared Camera (WHIRC). When the data are calibrated using templates of other Type Ia SNe, we derive an apparent H-band magnitude at the epoch of B-band maximum of 10.85 pm 0.04. This implies a distance modulus for M101 that ranges from 28.86 to 29.17 mag, depending on which absolute calibration for Type Ia SNe is used.
We have used deep, wide-field optical imaging to study the faint outskirts of the luminous spiral galaxy M101 (NGC 5457), as well as its surrounding environment. Over six square degrees, our imaging has a limiting surface brightness of mu_B ~ 29.5 mag/arcsec^2, and has revealed the stellar structure of M101s disk out to nearly 25 arcminutes (50 kpc), three times our measured R25 isophotal size of the optical disk. At these radii, the well-known asymmetry of the inner disk slews 180 degrees, resulting in an asymmetric plume of light at large radius which follows the very extended HI disk to the northeast of M101. This plume has very blue colors (B-V ~ 0.2), suggesting it is the somewhat more evolved (few hundred Myr to ~ 1 Gyr) counterpart of the young far ultraviolet emitting population traced by GALEX imaging. We also detect another, redder spur of extended light to the east of the disk, and both structures are reminiscent of features produced during fly-by galaxy interactions. However, we see no evidence of very extended tidal tails around M101 or any of its companions which might be expected from a recent encounter with a massive companion. We consider the properties of M101s outer disk in light of possible past interactions with the nearby companion galaxies NGC 5477 and NGC 5474. The detection of optical starlight at such large radii gives us the ability to study star formation histories and stellar populations in outer disks over a longer timescales than those traced by the UV or Halpha emitting populations. Our data suggest ongoing buildup of the M101s outer disk due to encounters in the group environment triggering extended star formation and tidal heating of existing disk populations.
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