Optical observations of a newly identified compact galaxy group near the Zone of Avoidance^*

¹ Institut für Astrophysik, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
² Dipartimento di Astronomia dell' Universitá di Padova, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 2, 35122 Padova, Italy e-mail: ciroi@pd.astro.it

Corresponding author: S. Temporin, giovanna.temporin@uibk.ac.at

Received: 11 September 2002
Accepted: 22 October 2002

Abstract

We have identified a new group of galaxies, CG J0247+44.9, at low galactic latitude (, ), which satisfies Hickson's criteria (Hickson [CITE] for Compact Groups (CGs)). Our group consists of six members, two of which are in close interaction (IRAS 02443+4437). 
We present here optical photometry and low resolution spectroscopy of the individual galaxies and investigate the global properties of the group. Our morphological analysis reveals that two out of the six objects are lenticular galaxies. The others are spirals showing emission lines in their spectra through which we could classify them as a starburst galaxy (the spiral member of the IRAS 02443+4437 close pair), a Seyfert 2, a LINER and a weak HII galaxy. Since the S0/Sa is the prevailing morphology for the galaxies of this group, which is also characterized by a short crossing time and a relatively high velocity dispersion, we suggest that CG J0247+44.9 is a dynamically old compact group.