A Survey of the Seyfert Galaxies Based on Large-Scale Image-Tube Plates
Abstract
Large-scale image-tube plates of 60 Seyfert galaxies have been taken to study the forms of the main bodies of the galaxies. Data for these, and for 20 additional Seyfert galaxies studied by other means, are presented in the form of descriptive notes. Selected large-scale plates of 35 of the galaxies are reproduced. Certain fundamental limitations make it difficult to classify these galaxies on the usual systems, or even to recognize any but the grossest structural peculiarities. In spite of this, it is possible to reach several tentative conclusions. First, it appears that Seyfert nuclei occur in a broad distribution of ordinary and barred spiral galaxies. Second, there seem to be very few Seyfert nuclei in elliptical galaxies. And third, there is apparently a surplus of Seyfert nuclei in disturbed and interacting systems. Some implications of these results for the Seyfert galaxies, and indirectly for the BL Lacertae objects and the QSOs, are explored. Attention is also drawn to the occurrence of annular structures in some of the Seyfert galaxies and to the interesting hierarchy of forms in the SB0 Seyfert galaxies, NCG 3516, and Mrk 3. Subject headings: galaxies: nuclei - galaxies: Seyfert - galaxies: structure
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
- Pub Date:
- January 1977
- DOI:
- 10.1086/190416
- Bibcode:
- 1977ApJS...33...19A