Kinematics of molecular gas in the nucleus of NGC 1068, from H$oldmathmathsf{_{2}}$ line emission observed with VLT

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Abstract
We present results about the distribution and kinematics of the molecular environment of the AGN in NGC 1068, over a region around the central engine in NGC 1068, derived from H2 line emission detected with ISAAC at VLT/ANTU on ESO/Paranal. The H2 emitting molecular gas is found to be distributed along the East-West direction and with two main peak emission (knots) located at a distance of about 70 pc from the central engine. The eastern H2 knot is more intense than the western one. The line profiles mapped across the entire region, at a spatial resolution of , appear to be quite complex with either a blue or red wing. At first order, we find a velocity difference of 140 km s-1 between the two knots; if interpreted as quasi-Keplerian velocity, this implies a central enclosed mass of .
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