The galactic center molecular clouds. II. Distribution and kinematics.
01 January 1988
The kinematics and distribution of molecular gas near the galactic center were observed in a variety of millimeter-wave spectral lines. The molecular component is asymmetric with respect to the dynamical center of the galaxy; about 3/4 of the (13)CO emission is produced at positive longitudes, and a different 3/4 of the gas is at positive velocities with respect to v (LSR)= 0 km s(-1). The velocity field of the gas is highly chaotic with some clouds having large (>100 km s(-1)) departures from the velocity pattern expected from purely circular orbits; however, most of the gas (70%) lies in a thin sheet in the galactic plan.