Slow Jets in Seyfert Galaxies: NGC 1068

Abstract

We have used the Very Long Baseline Array at 5 GHz to image the nucleus of NGC 1068 at two epochs separated by 2.92 yr. No relative motion was detected between the high brightness-temperature knots within components NE and C relative to the nuclear component S1, placing an upper limit of 0.075 c on the relative component speeds at distances of 21 pc and 43 pc from the AGN. The low speed is consistent with the low bulk flow speed previously inferred from indirect arguments based on ram pressure at the bow shock and on line emission from the jet-cloud collision at cloud C. The components are probably shocks in the jet, and the bulk flow speed could conceivably be higher than the limit reported here.