Abstract
Previous work on the peculiar double radio galaxy Cyg A has shown that the blue optical continuum in this object is extended over a region about 3 kpc in size. Spectropolarimetry of Cyg A is presented in order to test the hypothesis that this extended continuum source represents light scattered from an otherwise hidden active nucleus. The observed continuum polarization of 1.58 percent at position angle 13 deg is quite low, probably indicating that an explanation in terms of scattering is untenable. Instead, it is proposed that the blue continuum seen in the optical is light from hot stars, essentially unrelated to the active nucleus. The nucleus itself is still presumed to be hidden from direct view, either by an intervening dust lane or by an obscuring torus surrounding the nucleus. 14 refs.
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