NIR Imaging of the Box/Peanut Bulge in NGC 4302

The central, spheroidal component of spiral galaxies is frequently found to be “box- or peanut” (b/p) shaped. More than 30% of edge-on galaxies may show this phenomenon (Dettmar 1995). To explain this large frequency a very common process for the origin of this specific shape is required. N-body simulations have shown that this can be attributed to instabilities and resonances caused by bars in spiral disks (e. g., Combes et al. 1990, Raha et al. 1991).Previous statistics (Jarvis 1986, Shaw 1987, de Souza & dos Anjos 1987) are hampered by the low dynamic range of the photographic material used as well as by dust absorption in late type spirals and the difficulty to disentangle disk and bulge in such systems. We present K-band imaging of the very dusty edge-on galaxy NGC 4302 in the Virgo cluster supporting the presence of b/p bulges in late type spirals.NIR Observations were obtained with the NICMOS-3 ARNICA camera at TIRGO1 in spring 1994. The combined image of NGC 4302 clearly shows a flat-top “boxy” structure of the spheroid and an additional very thin component appears on the major axis cut. This latter component could be identified with a bar. The example of NGC 4302 demonstrates that b/p bulges are indeed present in disks of late type spirals and that bars can account for a significant fraction of these structures. As a consequence, the bulge/disk ratio of late type spirals has to be interpreted in an evolutionary scenario rather than as a primordial property.

3-D Spectroscopy with a Fourier Transform Spectrometer

With the advent of bidimensional array detectors the throughput advantage of a Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) can be used to create a new type of 3-D spectrometer. The classical multiplex property in the spectral domain of a FTS is multiplied by the number of pixel of the array. The points of the entrance field are all observed in parallel. After discussing the properties of this instrument, the coupling of the FTS of the CFH Telescope to a camera equipped with a NICMOS 3 array is described. With this combination, spectro-imaging in any bandpass between 1 and 2.5 µm is possible within a circular 24” field of view, with a scale of 0.33”/pixel, at seeing-limited spatial resolution. Any spectral resolution is choosable up to 30,000. Illustrations are given by a study of the dark side of Venus at 1.27 µm and of planetary nebulae at 2 µm. Many other objects can benefit from this observing mode in the near infrared. Further developments of this 3-D technique are discussed.

The Morphology of MID-Infrared UIR Feature Emission in the PPN M 2–9 and IRAS 21282+5050

The carbon-rich PPN M 2–9 and IRAS 21282+5050 are known to exhibit UIR feature emission at 7.7, 8.6, and 11.22 μm. The two nebulae have been imaged in the mid-IR with the UA/SAO/NRL Mid-Infrared Array Camera (MIRAC) in bandpasses which include UIR feature emission (8.8 and 11.22 μm). Near-infrared images of the nebulae have also been taken with the NICMOS 3 Hg:Cd:Te array camera at J, H, and K for M 2–9 and at K for IRAS 21282+5050.