Aperture synthesis CO observations of the inner disk of NGC 1068

NGC 1068 is probably the nearest galaxy with both a high rate of star formation and a high luminosity active nucleus. About one-half of the total IR luminosity originates in a disk approximately 30 seconds in size, which has been taken as evidence for a high rate of massive star formation (Telesco et al. 1984). Previous CO line observations have shown the existence of a ring at the outer boundary of the inner disk (Myers and Scoville 1987). Although these observations have proved that this ring is extremely rich in molecular gas (as suggested by Scoville et al. 1983), the angular resolution (approx. 6 seconds) was not high enough to resolve its structure. New aperture synthesis observations of the CO (J=1 to 0) emission in the inner disk of NGC 1068 have been carried out with the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO) mm Interferometer. The new receivers installed for the 88/89 season have allowed researchers to obtain a high sensitivity map of the CO emission. The molecular cloud ring has been resolved and continuum as well as line emission from the nucleus of the galaxy have been detected