Kinematics of molecular gas in the nucleus of NGC 1068, from H-2 line emission observed with VLT

We present results about the distribution and kinematics of the molecular e nvironment of the AGN in NGC1068, over a 1.5 " x 3.5 " region around the ce ntral engine in NGC 1068, derived from HI line emission detected with ISAAC at VLT/ANTU on ESO/Paranal. The H-2 emitting molecular gas is found to be distributed along the East-West direction and with two main peak emission ( knots) located at a distance of about 70 pc from the central engine. The ea stern H-2 knot is more intense than the western one. The line profiles mapp ed across the entire 1.5 " x 3.5 " region, at a spatial resolution of 0.3 " x 0.45 ", appear to be quite complex with either a blue or red wing. At fi rst order, we find a velocity difference of 140 kms(-1) between the two kno ts; if interpreted as quasi-Keplerian velocity, this implies a central encl osed mass of 10(8) M-circle dot.