WISDOM Project – XXVII. Giant molecular clouds of the lenticular galaxy NGC 1387: similarities with spiral galaxy clouds
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT Molecular gas is crucial to understanding star formation and galaxy evolution, but the giant molecular clouds (GMCs) of early-type galaxies (ETGs) have rarely been studied. Here, we present analyses of the spatially resolved GMCs of the lenticular galaxy NGC 1387, exploiting high spatial resolution ($0.15\ \mathrm{ arcsec}$ or 14 pc) $^{12}$CO(2-1) line observations from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. We identify 1285 individual GMCs and measure the fundamental properties (radius, velocity dispersion, and molecular gas mass) of each with a modified version of the CPROPStoo package. Unusually for an ETG, the GMCs of NGC 1387 follow scaling relations very similar to those of the Milky Way disc and Local Group galaxy clouds, and most are virialized. GMCs with large masses and radii and/or small galactocentric distances have their angular momenta aligned with the large-scale galactic rotation, while other GMCs do not. These results show that ETGs have more diversified GMC properties than previously thought. We discuss potential reasons for such diversity, and viewing-angle dependency is a plausible candidate.
Institutions: European Southern Observatory, Heidelberg University, University of Oxford, University of Copenhagen, DTU Space, Technical University of Denmark, Yonsei University, McMaster University, Cardiff University, Royal Observatory, University of Edinburgh, Trottier Space Institute at McGill, McGill University, Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory, Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi, University of Manchester, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,046
Funders: National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Entomological Society of America, California Institute of Technology, Space Telescope Science Institute, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, University of Oxford, European Commission, European School of Oncology, Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency, Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu, European Southern Observatory, Mitutoyo Association for Science and Technology, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Science and Technology Facilities Council, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, H2020 European Research Council
Awards: G1406871949, G3025133110, G3828138113, G433322167, G434337789, G444588108, G5755926593, G58316358, Astrophysics at Oxford: 2010-2015, The impact of Lyman-Werner radiation on early galaxy formation, Astrophysics and Planetary Science at Oxford 2013-16, G6273510985, G6796511355, Physics of Star Formation and Its Regulation, G7225304350
OpenAlex ID: W7127372860
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