MeerKAT-16 HI observation of the dIrr galaxy WLM

We present observations and models of the kinematics and the distribution of the neutral hydrogen (Hi) in the isolated dwarf irregular galaxy, Wolf-Lundmark-Melotte (WLM). We observed WLM with the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) and as part of the MeerKAT Early Science Programme, where 16 dishes were available. The Hi disc of WLM extends out to a major axis diameter of 300 (8.5 kpc), and a minor axis diameter of 200 (5.6 kpc) as measured by the GBT. We use the MeerKAT data to model WLM using the TiRiFiC software suite, allowing us to t di erent tilted-ring models and select the one that best matches the observation. Our nal best- tting model is a at disc with a vertical thickness, a constant inclination and dispersion, and a radially-varying surface brightness with harmonic distortions. To simulate bar- like motions, we include second-order harmonic distortions in velocity in the tangential and the vertical directions. We present a model with only circular motions included and a model with non-circular motions. The latter describes the data better. Overall, the models reproduce the global distribution and the kinematics of the gas, except for some faint emission at the 2 level. We model the mass distribution of WLM with a pseudo-isothermal (ISO) and a Navarro-Frenk-White (NFW) dark matter halo models. The NFW and the ISO models t the derived rotation curves within the formal errors, but with the ISO model giving better reduced chi-square values. The mass distribution in WLM is dominated by dark matter at all radii.The MeerKAT telescope is operated by the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory, which is a facility of the Na- tional Research Foundation, an agency of the Department of Science and Innovation. This work is based upon research supported by the South African Research Chairs Initiative of the Department of Sci- ence and Technology and National Research Foundation. The nancial assistance of the South African Radio Astron- omy Observatory (SARAO) towards this research is hereby acknowledged (www.sarao.ac.za). PK is partially supported by the BMBF project 05A17PC2 for D-MeerKAT. AS acknowledges the Russian Science Foundation grant 19-12-00281 and the Program of development of M.V.http://mnras.oxfordjournals.orgam2021Physic

The extended H i halo of NGC 4945 as seen by MeerKAT

The State Agency for Research of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities through the ‘Center of Excellence Severo Ochoa’ awarded to the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía; the Economic Transformation, Industry, Knowledge and Universities Council of the Regional Government of Andalusia and the European Regional Development Fund from the European Union; the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO); BMBF Verbundforschung; DFG Sonderforschungsbereich and the European Research Council (ERC).http://mnras.oxfordjournals.orghj2022Physic

Anomalous gas in ESO 149-G003 : a MeerKAT-16 view

ESO 149-G003 is a close-by, isolated dwarf irregular galaxy. Previous observations with the ATCA indicated the presence of anomalous neutral hydrogen (⁠HI⁠) deviating from the kinematics of a regularly rotating disc. We conducted follow-up observations with the MeerKAT radio telescope during the 16-dish Early Science programme as well as with the MeerLICHT optical telescope. Our more sensitive radio observations confirm the presence of anomalous gas in ESO 149-G003, and further confirm the formerly tentative detection of an extraplanar HI component in the galaxy. Employing a simple tilted-ring model, in which the kinematics is determined with only four parameters but including morphological asymmetries, we reproduce the galaxy’s morphology, which shows a high degree of asymmetry. By comparing our model with the observed HI⁠, we find that in our model, we cannot account for a significant (but not dominant) fraction of the gas. From the differences between our model and the observed data cube, we estimate that at least 7–8 per cent of the HI in the galaxy exhibits anomalous kinematics, while we estimate a minimum mass fraction of less than 1 per cent for the morphologically confirmed extraplanar component. We investigate a number of global scaling relations and find that, besides being gas-dominated with a neutral gas-to-stellar mass ratio of 1.7, the galaxy does not show any obvious global peculiarities. Given its isolation, as confirmed by optical observations, we conclude that the galaxy is likely currently acquiring neutral gas. It is either re-accreting gas expelled from the galaxy or accreting pristine intergalactic material.http://mnras.oxfordjournals.orghj2022Physic

MeerKAT-64 discovers wide-spread tidal debris in the nearby NGC 7232 galaxy group

Please read abstract in the article.http://mnras.oxfordjournals.orghj2022Physic