A DISC OF SHOCKED MOLECULAR-HYDROGEN AROUND THE ACTIVE NUCLEUS OF NGC-3079

A high-resolution image of the nuclear regions of the active galaxy NG C 3079 has been obtained in the H-2 1-0 S(1) emission line (rest lambd a = 2.1218 mu m) with the IRCAM3 camera on the 3.8-m UKIRT telescope. An approximate to 35 pc diameter elongated core within a more diffuse, 300 pc long, region of most likely shock-excited H-2 is shown to surr ound the active nucleus and be embedded within what could be an extend ed region of enhanced star formation. A disc of molecular gas could be present that shapes the emission of relativistic gas away from the pl ane of the galaxy. This nuclear H-2 1-0 S(1) emitting gas (of total ma ss approximate to 10(3) M-circle dot) is within a central dip in the d istribution of cool, CO emitting, molecular gas (of total mass approxi mate to 10(10) M-circle dot) which extends much further from the nucle us. The distributions of both the hot and the cool molecular gases are likely to be clumpy.