| Abstract | Maps made with the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope of 21-cm line emission from NGC 2712 and 5301 are presented; these spirals are the two most isolated galaxies ever to have been studied in this way. It is tentatively concluded that isolated galaxies do not have more extended H I distributions than nonisolated galaxies; hence, tidal stripping may not be an important factor in the history of most present-day spirals. In addition, it is suggested that warps and asymmetries in the gas distributions of spirals can be internally generated and sustained, since they are found in isolated as well as nonisolated galaxies. It is noted that there remain differences between isolated and nonisolated galaxies which deserve further study. |
