Issue |
A&A
Volume 529, May 2011
|
|
---|---|---|
Article Number | A157 | |
Number of page(s) | 8 | |
Section | Extragalactic astronomy | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201116773 | |
Published online | 22 April 2011 |
A first study of the galaxy HRG 2304 and its companion AM 1646-795 (NED01)⋆
1
Gemini Observatory,
Southern Operation Center, c/o AURA, Casilla
603,
La Serena,
Chile
e-mail: ewenderoth@gemini.edu
2
Laboratório Nacional de Astrofísica, Rua Estados Unidos 154,
37504-364, Itajubá,
MG,
Brazil
e-mail: max@lna.br; mabans@lna.br
3
Universidade do Vale do Paraíba – UNIVAP,
Av. Shishima Hifumi 2911, Urbanova
CEP: 12244-000, São José dos
Campos, SP,
Brazil
e-mail: angela.krabbe@gmail.com
4
Universidad de La Serena, Benavente 980, La Serena, Chile
e-mail: hcuevas@dfuls.cl
Received:
23
February
2011
Accepted:
21
March
2011
Aims. We report the first study of the peculiar ring-like galaxy HRG 2304 (NED02), which was previously classified as a ring galaxy with an elliptical smooth ring. This object was selected to prove that it is a candidate for the Solitaire-type ring galaxies in an early stage of ring formation. The main goal of this work is to provide the spectral characteristics of the current object and its companion AM 1646-795 (NED01).
Methods. The study is based on spectroscopic observations in the optical band to highlight the characteristics of this interacting galaxy. To investigate the star formation history of HRG 2304 we used the stellar population synthesis code STARLIGHT. The direct V and B broad band images were used to enhance some fine structures.
Results. Along the entire long-slit signal, the spectra of HRG 2304 and its companion resemble that of an early-type galaxy. We estimated a heliocentric systemic redshift of z = 0.0415, corresponding to heliocentric velocities of 12 449 km s-1 for HRG 2304 (NED02) and 12 430 km s-1 for AM1646-795 (NED01). The spatial variation in the contribution of the stellar population components for both objects are dominated by an old stellar population 2 × 109 < t ≤ 13 × 109 yr. The observed radial-velocity distribution and the fine structures around HRG 2304 suggest an ongoing tidal interaction of both galaxies.
Conclusions. The spectroscopic results and the morphological peculiarities of HRG 2304 can be adequately interpreted as an ongoing interaction with the companion galaxy. Both galaxies are early-type, the companion is elliptical, and the smooth distribution of the material around HRG 2304 and its off-center nucleus in the direction of AM1646-795 (NED01) characterize HRG 2304 as a Solitaire-type galaxy candidate in an early stage of ring formation.
Key words: galaxies: individual: HRG 2304 / methods: observational / techniques: spectroscopic / galaxies: interactions / galaxies: general / galaxies: peculiar
© ESO, 2011
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