A Dwarf Galaxy with Seyfert Characteristics
Abstract
The galaxy G1200 - 2038 has an emission-line spectrum similar to that of a type 2 Seyfert galaxy. An analysis of the H-beta profile reveals the presence of a broad component with FWHM about 840 km/s. One curious feature of G1200 - 2038 is that, despite its relatively low velocity (cz = 6420), it appears almost stellar on the Palomar Sky Survey. Higher-quality CCD imaging indicates that the underlying galaxy is indeed quite small. Its diameter measured at the V = 25.0 mag/sq arcsec level is 6.4 kpc (H0 = 70 km/s Mpc) and its absolute magnitude is only Mv = -16.9. The surface-brightness profile of the underlying galaxy is well represented by an exponential with a scale length of about 1.0 kpc. The luminosity of the nucleus compares to that of a mild Seyfert 2 nucleus, but the ratio of nuclear luminosity to host-galaxy luminosity is 1.1, a value typical of QSOs. It is concluded that the host galaxy of G1200 - 2038 is a low-luminosity dwarf, indicating that any galaxy, regardless of luminosity (mass), is capable of sustaining an active nucleus. The widths of the forbidden lines are therefore not determined by the potential well of the galaxy.
- Publication:
-
The Astronomical Journal
- Pub Date:
- January 1987
- DOI:
- 10.1086/114287
- Bibcode:
- 1987AJ.....93...29K
- Keywords:
-
- Dwarf Galaxies;
- Emission Spectra;
- Galactic Nuclei;
- Line Spectra;
- Radio Astronomy;
- Seyfert Galaxies;
- Astronomical Photometry;
- Charge Coupled Devices;
- Luminosity;
- Photoionization;
- Sky Surveys (Astronomy);
- Astrophysics;
- GALAXIES: SEYFERT