Edge-on spiral galaxies are a unique perspective on the vertical structure of spiral disks, both stars and the iconic dark dustlanes. The thickness of these dustlanes can now be resolved for the first time with Herschel in far-infrared and sub-mm emission.
Resolved far-infrared and sub-mm observations of edge-on spirals will impact on several current topics. First and foremost, these Herschel observations will settle whether or not there is a phase change in the vertical structure of the ISM with disk mass. Previously, a dramatic change in dustlane morphology was observed as in massive disks the dust collapses into a thin lane. If this is the case, the vertical balance between turbulence and gravity dictates the ISM structure and consequently star-formation and related phenomena (spiral arms, bars etc.). We specificaly target lower mass nearby edge-ons to complement existing Herschel observations of high-mass edge-on spirals. Secondly, the combined data-set, together with existing Spitzer observations, will drive the generation of spiral disk Spectral Energy Distribution models. These model how dust reprocesses starlight to thermal emission but the dust geometry remains the critical unknown. And thirdly, the observations will provide an accurate and unbiased census of the cold dusty structures occasionally seen extending out of the plane of the disk, when backlit by the stellar disk.
We ask for priority one for the remaining 8.9 hours of PACS and SPIRE observations of low- and intermediate-mass disks complement slated Herschel observations of massive edge-on spirals and existing Spitzer observations in the near-infrared.
Publication
DustPedia: Multiwavelength photometry and imagery of 875 nearby galaxies in 42 ultraviolet-microwave bands . Clark C. J. R. et al. . Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 609, id.A37, 30 pp. . 609 . 10.1051\/0004-6361\/201731419 . 2018A&A...609A..37C , A nearby galaxy perspective on dust evolution. Scaling relations and constraints on the dust build-up in galaxies with the DustPedia and DGS samples . Galliano Frédéric et al. . Astronomy and Astrophysics . null . null . 2021A&A...649A..18G , Reproducing the Universe: a comparison between the EAGLE simulations and the nearby DustPedia galaxy sample . Trčka Ana et al. . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society . null . null . 2020MNRAS.494.2823T , Dust emissivity and absorption cross section in DustPedia late-type galaxies . Bianchi S. et al. . Astronomy and Astrophysics . null . null . 2019A&A...631A.102B , DustPedia: the relationships between stars, gas, and dust for galaxies residing in different environments . Davies J. I. et al. . Astronomy and Astrophysics . null . null . 2019A&A...626A..63D , Old and young stellar populations in DustPedia galaxies and their role in dust heating . Nersesian A. et al. . Astronomy and Astrophysics . null . null . 2019A&A...624A..80N , Fraction of bolometric luminosity absorbed by dust in DustPedia galaxies . Bianchi S. et al. . Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 620, id.A112, 21 pp. . 620 . 10.1051\/0004-6361\/201833699 . 2018A&A...620A.112B , UV to submillimetre luminosity functions of TNG50 galaxies . Trčka Ana et al. . Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society . null . null . 2022MNRAS.516.3728T , Local Swift-BAT active gal...actic nuclei prefer circumnuclear star formation . Lutz D. et al. . Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 609, id.A9, 7 pp. . 609 . 10.1051\/0004-6361\/201731423 . 2018A&A...609A...9L , DustPedia: A Definitive Study of Cosmic Dust in the Local Universe . Davies J. I. et al. . Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Volume 129, Issue 974, pp. 044102 (2017). . 129 . 10.1088\/1538-3873\/129\/974\/044102 . 2017PASP..129d4102D , Dust emission profiles of DustPedia galaxies . Mosenkov A. V. et al. . Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 622, id.A132, 24 pp. . 622 . 10.1051\/0004-6361\/201833932 . 2019A&A...622A.132M ,
Instrument
PACS_PacsPhoto_largeScan, SPIRE_SpirePhoto_large
Temporal Coverage
2012-05-11T03:30:32Z/2013-02-28T22:39:41Z
Version
SPG v14.2.0
Mission Description
Herschel was launched on 14 May 2009! It is the fourth 'cornerstone' mission in the ESA science programme. With a 3.5 m Cassegrain telescope it is the largest space telescope ever launched. It is performing photometry and spectroscopy in approximately the 55-671 µm range, bridging the gap between earlier infrared space missions and groundbased facilities.
European Space Agency, 2013, New Herschel Multi-Wavelength Extragalactic Survey Of Edge-On Spirals Openparnhemesesclosepar, SPG v14.2.0, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-fnnf3qk
