Gas Dynamics and Star Formation in the Galaxy Pair NGC1512/1510

TL;DR

This study combines multi-wavelength observations to analyze the gas dynamics and star formation processes in the galaxy pair NGC1512/1510, revealing large HI structures, tidal dwarf candidates, and the impact of gravitational interactions on star formation.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive multi-wavelength analysis of the NGC1512/1510 system, highlighting the effects of interaction on gas distribution and star formation, and identifying potential tidal dwarf galaxies.

Findings

NGC1512 has a large HI disk with spiral arms affected by interaction.

Star formation occurs in the outer disk and tidal dwarf candidates are identified.

The system is likely in early stages of a minor merger about 400 Myr old.

Abstract

(abridged) Here we present HI line and 20-cm radio continuum data of the nearby galaxy pair NGC1512/1510 as obtained with the Australia Telescope Compact Array. These are complemented by GALEX UV-, SINGG Halpha- and Spitzer mid-infrared images, allowing us to compare the distribution and kinematics of the neutral atomic gas with the locations and ages of the stellar clusters within the system. For the barred, double-ring galaxy NGC1512 we find a very large HI disk, about 4x its optical diameter, with two pronounced spiral/tidal arms. Both its gas distribution and the distribution of the star-forming regions are affected by gravitational interaction with the neighbouring blue compact dwarf galaxy NGC1510. The two most distant HI clumps, at radii of about 80 kpc, show signs of star formation and are likely tidal dwarf galaxies. Star formation in the outer disk of NGC1512 is revealed by deep optical- and two-color ultraviolet images. Using the latter we determine the properties of about 200 stellar clusters and explore their correlation with dense HI clumps in the even larger 2XHI disk. The multi-wavelength analysis of the NGC1512/1510 system, which is probably in the first stages of a minor merger having started about 400 Myr ago, links stellar and gaseous galaxy properties on scales from one to 100 kpc.