Jessica Bryant (Agnes Scott College)
The HI distribution and kinematics of NGC 1232
As part of a project to understand gas kinematics of spiral galaxies, we
have analyzed a high velocity resolution VLA data set for the face on galaxy
NGC 1232. The HI extends 2 times beyond the optical system, with a
significant column density depression in the center. Although the system is
relatively face on, the derived rotation curve suggests a large component of
dark matter. NGC 1232 is also significantly warped. Analysis of the
velocity dispersion along the major axis shows no indication of a radial
trend in neutral gas temperature. In the future, the kinematical
information will be used to constrain the mixing processes of NGC 1232.