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The Extraordinary Radio Galaxy MRC B1221–423

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 March 2013

V. Safouris ,
R. W. Hunstead  and
O. R. Prouton
V. Safouris
Affiliation:
School of Physics, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. vickis@physics.usyd.edu.au, rwh@physics.usyd.edu.au
R. W. Hunstead
Affiliation:
School of Physics, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. vickis@physics.usyd.edu.au, rwh@physics.usyd.edu.au
O. R. Prouton
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy, University of Padova, I-35122 Padova, Italy. prouton@pd.astro.it
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Abstract

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MRC B1221–423 is a compact steep spectrum (CSS) radio source in the core of a remarkable elliptical galaxy. We examine its environment with long-slit spectra and multicolour images. A high-resolution synthesis image shows the radio source to have a 1″.5 (5.7 kpc) double structure. We use the empirical relationship between jet kinetic power and narrow line luminosity to infer a source age of ˜105 yr. The z = 0.1706 host galaxy is clearly disturbed, with tidal features and shells providing plausible evidence for a merger with one or more close companions. This evidence leads us to conclude that B1221–423 may be the progenitor of a much larger source, caught at an early stage in its radio evolution. We speculate that it is the interaction and accompanying events which have triggered this young powerful radio source.

Keywords

galaxies: activegalaxies: interactionsgalaxies: individual (B1221–423)
Type
GPS/CSS Workshop
Information
Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia , Volume 20 , Issue 1 , 2003 , pp. 1 - 5
Copyright
Copyright © Astronomical Society of Australia 2003

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