Molecular gas in water megamaser active galaxies
We have searched for molecular gas towards the nucleus of four galaxies known to harbor a water vapor megamaser. CO(1-->0) emission of NGC 2639 and NGC 5506 was strong enough to allow us to map their inner regions. Weak emission from Mrk 1210 was detected and Mrk 1 was not detected at all. We report the tentative detection of the CO(2-->1) line in NGC 5506. After this work, 12 of the 18 known galaxies harboring a water vapor megamaser have been observed in CO.
astro-ph↗