Dark and luminous matter in the NGC 3992 group of galaxies - I. The large barred spiral NGC 3992

R Bottema*, MAW Verheijen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Detailed neutral hydrogen observations have been obtained of the large barred spiral galaxy NGC 3992 and its three small companion galaxies, UGC 6923, UGC 6940, and UGC 6969. For the main galaxy, the Hi distribution is regular with a low level radial extension outside the stellar disc. However, at exactly the region of the bar, there is a pronounced central Hi hole in the gas distribution. Likely gas has been transported inwards by the bar and because of the emptyness of the hole no large accretion events can have happened in recent galactic times. The gas kinematics is very regular and it is demonstrated that the influence of the bar potential on the velocity field is negligible. A precise and extended rotation curve has been derived showing some distinct features which can be explained by the non-exponential radial light distribution of NGC 3992. The decomposition of the rotation curve gives a slight preference for a sub maximal disc, though a range of disc contributions, up to a maximum disc situation fits nearly equally well. For such a maximum disc contribution, which might be expected in order to generate and maintain the bar, the required mass-to-light ratio is large but not exceptional.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)793-808
Number of pages16
JournalAstronomy & Astrophysics
Volume388
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun-2002

Keywords

  • galaxies : individual : NGC 3992
  • ISM : kinematics and dynamics
  • galaxies : kinematics and dynamics
  • galaxies : spiral
  • HIGH-RESOLUTION OBSERVATIONS
  • URSA-MAJOR CLUSTER
  • ROTATION CURVES
  • SURFACE PHOTOMETRY
  • GALACTIC DISKS
  • PATTERN SPEED
  • H-I
  • 3-DIMENSIONAL DISTRIBUTION
  • NEUTRAL HYDROGEN
  • KINEMATICS

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