AAS 200th meeting, Albuquerque, NM, June 2002
Session 84. High Energy Processes in Normal Galaxies: A Multi-wavelength Look
Special Session Oral, Thursday, June 6, 2002, 2:00-3:30pm, Ballroom C

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[84.05] Chandra Observations of Merging Galaxies

G. Fabbiano (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory)

With Chandra we can look deep into galaxies and separate, spatially and spectrally, the components of the X-ray emission. This talk will focus on two galaxies: the Antennae galaxies as a prototype of tidally interacting galaxies, and NGC~5128/Centaurus-A, as an example of late merger. Chandra observations of the Antennae have revealed a rich population of Ultra Luminous X-ray sources (ULX), as well as a complex and luminous hot interstellar medium. With these data, and by comparing them with a range of multi-wavelength information, we can begin to understand the nature of ULXs, and have a direct picture of the complex multi-phase ISM. NGC~5128 offers a detailed look at a merger remnant. A recent Chandra discovery in this complex galaxy is the presence of giant arcs of hot gas, that seem to be related with some of the stellar shells of this system.


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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 34
© 2002. The American Astronomical Soceity.