Hydrogen motions in the central region of the Galaxy

Extract

The 21-cm hydrogen radiation near the galactic plane exhibits strong deviation from circular motion over longitudes within 30° or so of the galactic centre. In order to extend the observations first made by Rougoor and Oort,^* the Carnegie multichannel H-line spectrograph was used with our 60-foot radio telescope at Derwood, Maryland, in order to confirm the Leiden work and extend observations to more southern longitudes. Cross-sections extending ±2° in latitude were taken every 2° in longitude from l^II=−26°8 to l^II=+2°2 and a series of points along the galactic equator were taken every 1° over the same range. Effort has been concentrated on the southern extension of the observations, which agree well with the Leiden observations over the section in common, but which carry the observations nearly 20° farther south in longitude.