0.6 resolution images at 11 and 20 mu m of the active galactic nucleus in NGC 1068

We present diffraction-limited IR images at 11.2 and 20.5 mum of the centra l 6 " x 6 " region in NGC 1068, collected with the CAMIRAS instrument mount ed at the f/36 LR focus of the CFHT/Hawaii 3.6 m telescope and at the f/35 IR focus of the ESO/La Silla 3.6 m telescope, respectively. After deconvolu tion. the achieved resolution (0.6") reveals a prominent central con emitti ng about 95% of the total Bur at these wavelengths, as well as extended emi ssion, to the South-West (PA = 210 degrees) and to the North-East (PA = 35 degrees), broken into patchy components which are particularly conspicuous at 20.5 mum and can be isolated as individual clouds. The central core show s an East-West FWHM of 0.6 " (hence unresolved) and a North-South FWHM of 0 .9 " corresponding to a resolved full size extension of approximate to 100 pc. Such an elongated shape is in agreement with model predictions of a dus ty/molecular torus surrounding the central engine in NGC 1065, observed und er an inclination angl of around 65 degrees. Considering that the core at 1 1.2 and 20.5 mum is coincident with the core also seen at 2.2, 3.5 and 4.8 mum and that this features the location of the central engine (also the rad io source Si), the extended mid-IR emission is found to follow closely the radio jet-like structure in both the North-East and South-West quadrants. I n the North-East quadrant, we observe that the mid-IR emission arises predo minantly on the eastern side of the ionizing cone defined by the HST NLR [O III]-emitting clouds and is still quite prominent at the wide base of the s o-called Northeast radio lobe, 4 " away from the central engine. A detailed comparison of the extended mid-IR emission with model predictions requires that future AGN modeling includes both a molecular/dusr, torus and a distr ibution of material away from the equatorial plane of the torus, i.e. in an d around the NLR.