The BL Lacertae object 1E 1415.6 + 2557 - Host galaxy, possible optical jet, and environment

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (14) References (16) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS The BL Lacertae Object 1E 1415.6+2557: Host Galaxy, Possible Optical Jet, and Environment Romanishin, W. Abstract 1E 1415.6+2557 is an X-ray-selected BL Lac object in a prominent host galaxy at a redshift of 0.237. It is one of only two BL Lac objects which have been reported to possibly lie in a spiral or disk host galaxy: all other BL Lac object host galaxies which have been studied in detail are consistent with their being ellipticals. In this Letter, I present new optical CCD imagery of 1E 1415.6+2557, and an image-modeling analysis of the observed host galaxy. I conclude that the host galaxy of 1E 1415.6+2557 is most likely a luminous elliptical galaxy. Careful subtraction of the light from the BL Lac object nucleus and a model of the host galaxy reveals a jetlike feature, extending about 3" from the nucleus of the object. Although I have no further information on this feature at this time, its striking morphology strongly suggests it is an optical jet emanating from the BL Lac object's nucleus. If confirmed as such, this would be only the second optical jet discovered in a BL Lac object. I also study the immediate environs of the object and find no evidence that it is in a cluster of galaxies. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: December 1992 DOI: 10.1086/186672 Bibcode: 1992ApJ...401L..65R Keywords: Bl Lacertae Objects; Disk Galaxies; Jet Flow; Spiral Galaxies; Charge Coupled Devices; Luminosity; Red Shift; Very Large Array (Vla); Astrophysics full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (4) NED (1)