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E. Martin, D. A. Hunter (Lowell Observatory)
Irregular (Im) galaxies have received limited attention with infrared satellites because of the difficulty in studying objects of such low surface brightness. The Spitzer Space Telescope allows us a deeper and higher resolution view into the infrared emission of the Im galaxies than has been possible before. Archival data obtained with the Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) was used to examine a sample of Im galaxies in four passbands: 3.6μm, 4.5μm, 5.8μm and 8.0μm. The [3.6] image is primarily starlight, which was compared to optical images. The [4.5] passband emission was separated into stars and hot dust. The [5.8] and [8.0] images are dominated by PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). The distributions of hot dust and PAHs are compared to Halpha images that map the star-forming regions. Analysis also includes surface photometry of each galaxy and integrated emission.
Support to this project is from the NSF for the REU program at NAU with grant 9988007, as well as NSF grant AST-0204922 to DAH.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #4
© 2005. The American Astronomical Soceity.