RAM-pressure stripping of a galaxy's ISM

NGC 4485 is a late-type galaxy moving through the very extended HI envelope of its companion, NGC 4490. NGC 4485 is undetected in HI, CO and IRAS wave bands, but a peak at all of these frequencies is seen displaced from the op tical disk. HI data show a prominent bow-shock ahead of this displaced gas. It is argued that almost the entire ISM, including molecular clouds, has b een stripped from this galaxy by ram-pressure, and that it will emerge from the encounter with very little star forming potential.