Morphology and Photometry of the UV-Excess Galaxy Pair NGC 7770/7771

Abstract

Morphology of the nuclear region of the component NGC 7770 indicates that it has a complicated structure in the B-band, while the V-band shows a double nuclear structure. The brightness and color of the nuclear condensations are given. Detailed photometric analysis of this component including luminosity profiles along major and minor scans as well as position angle and ellipticity curves is obtained. Integration and decomposition of the luminosity profiles are also performed. The color distribution and integrated color are also studied taking into account that the blue color together with the unusual color distribution are characteristics relevant to UV-excess galaxies. The integrated photometric parameters are also given.The state of interaction between the components of the pair is also investigated. The peculiar features appearing in the isophotal maps, the truncation of the luminosity profile along the side of interaction and the unusual appearance of the structural profiles are discussed and considered as strong evidence for the real state of interaction between the components of the pair. A lower limit of the total orbital mass of the system is found to be Mt=1.36 × 1010 M⊙, and the total mass-to-luminosity ratio is f=0.63 f⊙.