The gaseous content of the Blue Compact Galaxy Mrk 59

Abstract

FUSE far-UV spectroscopy of the nearby metal-deficient (Zo/8) cometary Blue Compact Dwarf galaxy Mrk59 have been used to investigate element abundances in its interstellar medium. The lack of diffuse H2 (N(H2)<10e15 cm-2) is due to the combined effect of a strong UV radiation field and a low metallicity. By fitting the line profiles with multiple components having b=7kms-1 and spanning a radial velocity range of 100 kms-1, we derive heavy element abundances in the neutral gas. We find log N(OI)/N(HI)=-5.0+/-0.3, about a factor of 10 below the oxygen abundance of the supergiant HII region.