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The central dusty torus in the active nucleus of NGC 1068

Author

Listed:
  • W. Jaffe

    (Leiden Observatory)

  • K. Meisenheimer

    (Max Planck Institut für Astronomie)

  • H. J. A. Röttgering

    (Leiden Observatory)

  • Ch. Leinert

    (Max Planck Institut für Astronomie)

  • A. Richichi

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • O. Chesneau

    (Max Planck Institut für Astronomie)

  • D. Fraix-Burnet

    (Observatoire de Grenoble)

  • A. Glazenborg-Kluttig

    (Stichting ASTRON)

  • G.-L. Granato

    (Astronomical Observatory of Padua)

  • U. Graser

    (Max Planck Institut für Astronomie)

  • B. Heijligers

    (Leiden Observatory)

  • R. Köhler

    (Max Planck Institut für Astronomie)

  • F. Malbet

    (Observatoire de Grenoble)

  • G. K. Miley

    (Leiden Observatory)

  • F. Paresce

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • J.-W. Pel

    (Kapteyn Astronomical Institute)

  • G. Perrin

    (Observatoire de Paris-Meudon)

  • F. Przygodda

    (Max Planck Institut für Astronomie)

  • M. Schoeller

    (European Southern Observatory)

  • H. Sol

    (Observatoire de Paris-Meudon)

  • L. B. F. M. Waters

    (Astronomical Institute “Anton Pannekoek”, Univ. of Amsterdam
    Instituut voor Sterrenkunde, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)

  • G. Weigelt

    (Max-Planck-Institut fur Radioastronomie)

  • J. Woillez

    (Observatoire de Paris-Meudon)

  • P. T. de Zeeuw

    (Leiden Observatory)

Abstract

Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) display many energetic phenomena—broad emission lines, X-rays, relativistic jets, radio lobes—originating from matter falling onto a supermassive black hole. It is widely accepted that orientation effects play a major role in explaining the observational appearance of AGNs. Seen from certain directions, circum-nuclear dust clouds would block our view of the central powerhouse1,2. Indirect evidence suggests that the dust clouds form a parsec-sized torus-shaped distribution. This explanation, however, remains unproved, as even the largest telescopes have not been able to resolve the dust structures. Here we report interferometric mid-infrared observations that spatially resolve these structures in the galaxy NGC 1068. The observations reveal warm (320 K) dust in a structure 2.1 parsec thick and 3.4 parsec in diameter, surrounding a smaller hot structure. As such a configuration of dust clouds would collapse in a time much shorter than the active phase of the AGN3, this observation requires a continual input of kinetic energy to the cloud system from a source coexistent with the AGN.

Suggested Citation

  • W. Jaffe & K. Meisenheimer & H. J. A. Röttgering & Ch. Leinert & A. Richichi & O. Chesneau & D. Fraix-Burnet & A. Glazenborg-Kluttig & G.-L. Granato & U. Graser & B. Heijligers & R. Köhler & F. Malbet, 2004. "The central dusty torus in the active nucleus of NGC 1068," Nature, Nature, vol. 429(6987), pages 47-49, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:429:y:2004:i:6987:d:10.1038_nature02531
    DOI: 10.1038/nature02531
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