Observations of cold extragalactic gas clouds at $z = 0.45$ towards PKS 1610-771

We present results from MUSE observations of a 21-cm H i absorption system detected with the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder radio telescope at redshift z = 0.4503 towards the z = 1.71 quasar PKS 1610-771. We identify four galaxies (A, B, X and Y) at the same redshift as the 21-cm H i Damped Lyman-α (DLA) absorption system, with impact parameters ranging from less than 10 kpc to almost 200 kpc from the quasar sightline. Ca ii and Na i absorption is seen in the MUSE spectrum of the background QSO, with velocities coinciding with the initial H i 21-cm detection, but tracing less dense and warmer gas. This metal-line component aligns with the rotating ionised disc of galaxy B (impact parameter 18 kpc from the QSO) and appears to be co-rotating with the galaxy disc. In contrast, the 21-cm H i absorber is blueshifted relative to the galaxies nearest the absorber and has the opposite sign to the velocity field of galaxy B. Since galaxies A and B are separated by only 17 kpc on the sky and 70 km s−1 in velocity, it appears likely that the 21-cm detection traces extragalactic clouds of gas formed from their interaction. This system reveals that the cold 100 K neutral gas critical for star formation can be associated with complex structures beyond the galaxy disc, and is a first case study made in preparation for future large 21-cm absorption surveys like the ASKAP First Large Absorption Survey in H i.