Infrared Observations of the Galactic Center
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Abstract
Infrared radiation from the nucleus of the Galaxy has been detected at effective wavelengths of 1.65, 2.2, and 3.4 ~ with angular resolutions from O~O8 to 1 ~8. The structure consists of: (1) a dominant source 5' in diameter; (2) a pointlike source centered on the dominant source; (3) an extended background; and (4) additional discrete extended sources. Contour maps of the 2.2-jL brightness distribution of the galactic center region are given for resolutions of 1 ~8, O~8, and O~25. A comparison of the infrared and radio observations shows that the dominant infrared source and the radio source Sagittarius A have the same coordinates and similar sizes. An analysis of the observed infrared radiation predicts about 25 mag of visual absorption between the Sun and the galactic center if the source of infrared radiation is stellar. A comparison is also made be- tween the infrared radiation from the galactic center and that from the nucleus of M31 which shows agree- ment in both the apparent structure and infrared luminosity of the two nuclei