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[60.13] Mid-Infrared Observations of Extended Light in the Spiral Galaxy NGC 5907

M. L. N. Ashby (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics), J. L. Pipher, W. J. Forrest (University of Rochester), R. G. Arendt (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center), S. P. Willner, P. Barmby (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics), J. R. Stauffer (Spitzer Science Center), H. A. Smith (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics), J. J. Bock (California Institute of Technology), G. G. Fazio (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)

We present deep Spitzer Space Telescope observations of the disk and surrounding regions of the spiral galaxy NGC 5907. These images, which were taken in four bands from 3 to 9.5 microns by the Infrared Array Camera, are relatively insensitive to the dust extinction that prevails in this late type edge-on galaxy. They therefore reveal much that is new about the stellar content and morphology of NGC 5907. We find indications of extended emission that appears to have a scale height intermediate between the thin disk and the long-sought dark halo. Implications of this finding are discussed.

This work is based in part on observations made with the Spitzer Space Telescope, which is operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology under NASA contract 1407. Support for this work was provided by NASA through contract 1256790 issued by JPL/Caltech.

The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: mashby@cfa.harvard.edu

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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 5
© 2004. The American Astronomical Society.