[CWB94] NE , the SIMBAD biblio

VLA observations of large-scale H I and OH absorption in the merging galaxy of NGC 6240 are presented with 1" resolution. H I absorption is found across large areas of the extended radio continuum structure with a strong concentration toward the double nucleus. The OH absorption is confined to the nuclear region. The H I and OH observations identify fractions of the gas disks of the two galaxies and confirm the presence of central gas accumulation between the nuclei. The data clearly identify the nucleus of the southern galaxy as the origin of the symmetric superwind outflow and also reveal blueshifted components resulting from a nuclear starburst. Various absorption components are associated with large-scale dynamics of the system including a foreground dust lane crossing the radio structure in the northwest region.