The nucleus of the Cygnus A galaxy

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (26) References (38) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS The Nucleus of the Cygnus A Galaxy Vestergaard, M. ; Barthel, P. D. Abstract Newly obtained high resolution optical images of the prototypical luminous radio galaxy Cygnus A (3C 405) indicate an inhomogeneous distribution of obscuring dust and, in combination with previous data, three types of radiation (stellar and blue featureless continuum as well as luminous line emission) in its central regions. The galaxy should not be classified as a colliding pair of galaxies, nor as a dust-lane galaxy. The alleged double nucleus finds its origin in heavy obscuration coupled to excess line emission in the central regions of an otherwise normal giant elliptical galaxy. A strongly reddened nuclear component, coincident with the Cygnus A radio core, is found to emit faint but concentrated narrow line emission. All data appear consistent with identification of Cygnus A as a radio-loud quasar having its radio axis oriented at about 35^deg^ from the sky plane. The presumed dust torus obscuring the quasar continuum is inferred to be smaller than 800 parsecs. Publication: The Astronomical Journal Pub Date: February 1993 DOI: 10.1086/116443 Bibcode: 1993AJ....105..456V Keywords: Cosmic Dust; Cygnus Constellation; Elliptical Galaxies; Galactic Nuclei; Imaging Techniques; Radio Galaxies; Emission Spectra; High Resolution; Line Spectra; Luminosity; Astrophysics; GALAXIES: INDIVIDUAL: CYGNUS A (3C405); GALAXIES: NUCLEI; GALAXIES: ACTIVE full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (2) NED (1)