Spitzer Space Telescope - General Observer Proposal #3544


IRAC and MIPS Observations of the Interacting Galaxies IC 2163 and NGC
2207

Principal Investigator: Debra Elmegreen
           Institution: Vassar College

Co-Investigators: 
Bruce Elmegreen, IBM T.J. Watson Research Center                      
Michele Kaufman, Ohio State University                                
Kartik Sheth, CalTech                                                 
Elias Brinks, Instituto Nacional de Astrofisica                       
Magnus Thomasson, Onsala Space Observatory                            
Curt Struck, Iowa State University                                    

Science Category: interacting/merging galaxies 
 Observing Modes: IracMap MipsPhot 
  Hours Approved: 1.8 

Abstract:
We propose IRAC and MIPS observations of the interacting galaxies IC
2163 and NGC 2207 in order to find and measure the properties of
embedded young massive clusters (YMC), determine the luminosities and
masses of clusters and gas in an extraordinary region that may contain
a black hole inside a YMC, measure the dust temperatures and column
densities in dozens of clouds in NGC 2207 that were also observed in
HI and in extinction using IC 2163 as a background source, and look
for the IR counterparts of enhanced radio continuum ridges that are
associated with galactic-scale tidal shocks.  The results should
clarify an observation that is peculiar to these galaxies and a few
other sources of enhanced YMC formation relative to lower mass
clusters.  The data could also reveal the first evidence of mutual
disk scraping in a grazing collision.  As this galaxy pair is among
the most thoroughly observed and modeled of all interacting
(non-merger) systems, the SST observations combined with our other
data and models will allow us to determine the history of tidal
deformations, gas flow, and star formation over the 40  My since
perigalacticon.