Imaging and spectroscopic studies of the interacting system Markarian 171

V, R, and I broadband CCD images, as well as H-alpha spectroscopic observations of Markarian 171, are presented. Two apparently interacting dust-enshrouded galaxies exhibit relatively normal V-R, V-I galactic stellar-population colors in their outer regions, and spatially extended H-alpha emission....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Astronomical journal 1987-12, Vol.94, p.1480-1486
Main Authors: Friedman, Scott D., Cohen, Ross D., Jones, B., Smith, Harding E., Stein, W. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Astronomy
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Summary:V, R, and I broadband CCD images, as well as H-alpha spectroscopic observations of Markarian 171, are presented. Two apparently interacting dust-enshrouded galaxies exhibit relatively normal V-R, V-I galactic stellar-population colors in their outer regions, and spatially extended H-alpha emission. However, the dereddened colors imply a hot stellar population. The dual characteristics of narrow H-alpha lines and spatially extended H-alpha emission clearly distinguish this type of activity from that associated with the compact central regions of active galactic nuclei and QSOs. Apparently, in the case of Mk 171 the interaction has induced star formation throughout a significant fraction of the galaxy (kiloparsecs) - not just in the immediate vicinity of the nucleus (parsecs). A peculiar stellar population of hot stars associated with a knot of weak H-alpha emission appears spatially separate from the other emission-line regions. It is possible that this stellar knot is a severed remnant attributable to the gravitational interaction between the two galaxies.
ISSN:0004-6256
DOI:10.1086/114581