One galaxy from several - The Hickson compact group H31

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/169459· OSTI ID:5994099

Rubin, V C; Ford, Jr, W K; Hunter, D A ^[1]

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1. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC (USA) Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, AZ (USA)

The compact group H31 was identified by Hickson in 1982; it consists of four galaxies in close proximity, at least two of which (A and C) are interacting. Red and H-alpha frames and long-slit spectroscopy identify at least three other close members of the group; an H I envelope encloses all galaxies. Nuclear spectra of galaxies A and C show velocity patterns characteristic of interacting galaxies as well as the broad 4650 A feature indicative of W-R stars. These features reveal that large numbers of massive stars formed more than 10 exp 6.5 yr ago. Other observed characteristics all suggest that H31 is in the process of merging to a single galaxy. H31 thus supports computations which indicate that galaxies in compact groups merge to form a single remnant. 52 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5994099
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Vol. 365; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
GALAXY CLUSTERS
GRAVITATIONAL INTERACTIONS
MORPHOLOGY
BALMER LINES
GALACTIC EVOLUTION
GALAXIES
GALAXY NUCLEI
H1 REGIONS
MASS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
SPECTROSCOPY
STAR EVOLUTION
WOLF-RAYET STARS
BASIC INTERACTIONS
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
INTERACTIONS
MAIN SEQUENCE STARS
STARS
640105* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Galaxies