GBT23B-111

GBT HI Mapping of the Fornax Cluster

Abstract

Galaxy clusters are the sites for some of the most dramatic forms of galaxy evolution in the local universe. They represent the intersections of filaments in the cosmic web where hydrogen gas streams come together. Unfortunately, most of what we know about the evolution of gas and galaxies in clusters comes from extremely detailed studies of only a few clusters, such as Virgo. The Fornax cluster is the second most massive cluster within 20 Mpc, after Virgo, and is also a dense cluster in an active evolutionary state. The MeerKAT Fornax Survey is spending 900 hours observing 12 square degrees of the Fornax cluster, and has already identified signatures of gas removal and accretion in the galaxies and will reveal how galaxy properties are affected by the cluster. We are proposing to observe the low column density HI in this cluster with the GBT covering the entire MeerKAT survey region and surroundings. These data will provide the total power complement to MeerKAT and reveal missing HI distributed on large scales within the cluster. Previous FLAG observations of Fornax failed to achieve the desired sensitivity so these observations are needed to combine with the MeerKAT data and confirm the FLAG results.

Investigators

Name	Institution
nabeelah adam	Cape Town, University of
D.J. Pisano *	Cape Town, University of
Nickolas Pingel	Wisconsin at Madison, University of; Australian National University
Paolo Serra	Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica

* indicates the PI