Detection of the CO J = 2-1 line in M82 and IC 342
Abstract
A search has been conducted for the CO(2-1) line at 230 GHz in four galaxies and it has been detected in two, IC 342 and M82. Comparison with data for the CO(1-0) line in these galaxies shows that the molecular gas in IC 342 appears to be optically thick; that in M82, however, is of low optical depth. A comparison of the gas and stellar content of the central region of M82 suggests that much of the current star formation is taking place as high-mass stars.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- August 1980
- DOI:
- 10.1086/158206
- Bibcode:
- 1980ApJ...240...60K
- Keywords:
-
- Carbon Monoxide;
- Emission Spectra;
- Galactic Structure;
- Interstellar Gas;
- Line Spectra;
- Bolometers;
- Heterodyning;
- Molecular Gases;
- Optical Thickness;
- Stellar Evolution;
- Telescopes;
- Astrophysics