Merging signatures in the core of Mkn 938
P. Rafanelli, Agatino Rifatto, Viktor L. Afanasiev, С. Н. Додонов, K. Birkle, C. Cannavacciuolo, P. Böhm, Gerold Richter, J. Vennik · Padua Research Archive (University of Padova) · 2000
Spectra of the central region (16'' x 16'') of the Seyfert-2 galaxy NGC 34 = Mkn 938 have been obtained using the Multi Pupil Fiber Spectrograph (MPFS) at the 6m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciencesat Zelenchukskaya, Caucasus. Gas and stars show a complex morphology and kinematics. The stellar radial velocity field in the lines of NaIDshows the existence of two counterrotating dynamical centers, the positions of which correspond to two distinct infrared sources detected at 8.8 μm and 12.5 μm. The presence of emitting gaseous knots ionized by stars on the south and on the west of the active nucleus support the idea that we are observing a dynamic merging of two galaxies.