Bibcode
DOI
Gutiérrez, C. M.; López-Corredoira, M.
Bibliographical reference
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 605, Issue 1, pp. L5-L8.
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4
2004
Journal
Citations
10
Refereed citations
7
Description
Spectroscopy and deep imaging of the group NEQ3 are presented. This
system is formed by three compact objects with relative separations of
~2.6" and ~2.8" and a lenticular galaxy at ~17" from the geometric
center of the group. A diffuse filament is located on a line joining the
three compact objects and the main galaxy. Analysis of these
observations confirms the redshift previously known for three of the
objects (z=0.1239 for the main galaxy, and z=0.1935 and 0.1939 for two
of the compact objects). We have also determined the previously unknown
redshift of the third compact object as z=0.2229. Using the relative
strength and width of the main spectral lines we have classified the
compact objects as two H II galaxies and one QSO (the object at
z=0.1935). With cross-correlation techniques, we have tentatively
estimated the redshift of the filament as z=0.19 (although a weaker
component also appears at z=0.12), so that it is probably associated
with the halo of the two compact objects at this redshift. The two
objects at redshift ~0.19 represent possibly one of the more clear
examples of starburst (and perhaps QSO activity) driven by interaction.
These considerations and the relation between these objects and the
other two at reshifts ~0.12 and ~0.22 make the nature of the system
intriguing, being difficult to explain the whole association in
conventional scenarios.