the andromeda nebula m 31 is the closest spiral galaxy and offers the best opportunity to explore in detail the distribution of the dust emission and the major cooling lines in extragalactic photo-dissociation regions. this proposal will complement on-going isocam observations on a prominent region of star formation activity located sw in the 10-kpc ring of m 31. whereas isocam will probe the mid-ir emission of the smallest dust grains, we propose to measure the major cooling line of the neutral interstellar medium, the cii line at 157 microns, by using lws in the grating mode. the nii line at 122 microns will also be observed as a check of ionization, and the oi line at one point. this will provide a detailed picture of the cooling mechanisms. in addition, we propose to explore a few of the molecular clouds which were found in the inner regions of m 31 in order to better understand the excitation of co, the kinetic temperature and the total mass in those clouds.
Instrument
LWS02
Temporal Coverage
1998-02-15T17:40:21Z/1998-02-15T18:07:35Z
Version
1.0
Mission Description
The Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) was the world's first true orbiting infrared observatory. Equipped with four highly-sophisticated and versatile scientific instruments, it was launched by Ariane in November 1995 and provided astronomers world-wide with a facility of unprecedented sensitivity and capabilities for a detailed exploration of the Universe at infrared wavelengths.
