Observing NGC 4151 with the Keck Interferometer

摘要

Observations of the nucleus of NGC 4151 at 2.2 μm using the two 10-meter Keck telescopes as an interferometer show a marginally resolved source less than or equal to 0.1 pc in diameter. These observations are the first measurement of an extragalactic source with an optical/IR interferometer. These observations represent a ten-fold improvement in angular resolution when compared to previous near-infrared measurements of AGN and make it possible to test the subparsec-scale, near-infrared emission models of NGC 4151.