Published June 27, 1983 | Version v1
Journal article

High resolution observation of the optical jet of the galaxy Messier 87

  • 1. Societe du Telescope, Kamuela, HI (USA)
  • 2. Observatoire du Pic du Midi, Bagneres-de-Bigorre (France)
  • 3. Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, 75 (France)

Description

The M87 jet has been observed, in U color, with the C.F.H. telescope and the ''large field electronographic camera'', by excellent seeing. The signal to noise ratio of the plate is high and three new structures appear: 1, a luminous filament close to the nucleus of the galaxy; 2, a faint emission of light between knots D, E, F and I; 3, condensation H is much larger than the other knots and coincides with the end of the radio jet. Each condensation has a particular shape and, except for H, their dimensions are in the range 30 to 100 pc. The jet appears without break from the nucleus up to H, in agreement with the hypothesis of a continuous ejection of matter from the nucleus. It oscillates from the beginning. At the level of knot A and further, its structure looks complex, in agreement with the radio map of Biretta et al. (1983); a hypothesis relative to the flow of matter in this region is proposed. A precessing jet is a likely explanation of the data at least up to knot I

Abstract (French)

Le jet de M 87 a ete observe en couleur U avec le telescope C.F.H. et la camera electronique a grand champ. Les cliches presentent une excellente resolution et un rapport signal sur bruit eleve. On note trois structures nouvelles: 1, un filament proche du noyau; 2, une emission lumineuse residuelle entre les condensations D, E, F et I; 3, la condensation H est beaucoup plus large que les autres nodosites et correspond a l'extremite radio du jet. Chaque condensation a une forme particuliere et H mis a part, leurs dimensions sont comprises entre 30 et 100 pc. Le jet apparait continu du noyau jusqu'a H, en accord avec l'hypothese d'une ejection permanente de matiere a partir du noyau; il oscille des son origine. A partir de A, sa structure apparait complexe, en accord avec la carte radio de Biretta et coll. (1983). Une hypothese sur la morphologie du jet a tres haute resolution est presentee. Un phenomene de precession doit pouvoir rendre compte de la forme du jet dans sa premiere partie (du noyau a I)

Additional details

Additional titles

Original title (French)
Etude a haute resolution du jet optique de Messier 87

Publishing Information

Journal Title
C. R. Seances Acad. Sci., Ser. 2
Journal Volume
296
Journal Issue
23
Series
C. R. Seances Acad. Sci., Ser. 2.
Journal Page Range
1779-1786
ISSN
0249-6305

INIS

Country of Publication
France
Country of Input or Organization
France
INIS RN
15011670
Subject category
S79: ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY;
Descriptors DEI
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; GALAXIES; JETS; OPTICS; QUASARS; RADIO GALAXIES; RADIOWAVE RADIATION; RESOLUTION; TELESCOPES
Descriptors DEC
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES; ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; RADIATIONS