Investigation of the nuclear region of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 1275

Abstract

New data are given on the structure of the region around the nucleus of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 1275 and the nucleus itself. Direct plates obtained with the 6-m telescope with red and blue glass filters were used. The scale of the images on the negatives was 17.5 mm/sup -1/. The galaxy NGC 1275 has a double nucleus. The position angle of the line joining the components of the nucleus is approx. =5/sup 0/. The distance between the components, projected onto the celestial sphere, is 1.50 + or 0.60 (or 500 + or - 20 pc). Each of the components is <10, and they are both variable. During the time of the observations (20 min), the brightness of the components varied by almost 2.5-3 times. A bar has been discovered between the nucleus of the galaxy and the object 7'' to the northeast of the nucleus; there is evidence which suggests that the bar consists of stars of both early and late spectral classes. The age of the bar (or the time of interaction of the nucleus and the 7'' object) is not less than 10/sup 8/ yrs. Other observed details of the galaxy indicate a complicated nature of themore » interaction between the nucleus and the 7'' object.« less