The active CGCG 077-102 NED02 galaxy within the Abell 2063 galaxy cluster

Context. Within the framework of investigating the link between the central super massive black holes in the cores of galaxies and the galaxies themselves, we detected a variable X-ray source in the center of CGCG 077-102 NED02, which is a member of the CGCG 077-102 galaxy pair within the Abell 2063 cluster of galaxies.
Aims: Our goal is to combine X-ray and optical data to demonstrate that this object harbors an active super massive black hole in its core, and to relate this to the dynamical status of the galaxy pair within the Abell 2063 cluster.
Methods: We used Chandra and XMM-Newton archival data to derive the X-ray spectral shape and variability. We also obtained optical spectroscopy to detect the expected emission lines that are typically found in active galactic nuclei. Finally, we used public ZTF imaging data to investigate the optical variability.
Results: There is no evidence of multiple X-ray sources or extended components within CGCG 077-102 NED02. Single X-ray spectral models fit the source well. We detect significant, nonrandom inter-observation 0.5-10 keV X-ray flux variabilities, for observations separated by ∼4 days for short-term variations and by up to ∼700 days for long-term variations. Optical spectroscopy points toward a passive galaxy for CGCG 077-102 NED01 and a Seyfert for CGCG 077-102 NED02. The classification of CGCG 077-102 NED02 is also consistent with its X-ray luminosity of over 10⁴² erg s⁻¹. We do not detect short-term variability in the optical ZTF light curves. However, we find a significant long-term stochastic variability in the g-band that can be well described by the damped random walk model with a best-fit characteristic damping timescale of τ_DRW = 30₋₁₂⁺²⁸ days. Finally, the CGCG 077-102 galaxy pair is deeply embedded within the Abell 2063 potential, with a long enough history within this massive structure to have been affected by the influence of this cluster for a long time.
Conclusions: Our observations point toward a moderately massive black hole in the center of CGCG 077-102 NED02 of ∼10⁶ M_⊙. As compared to another similar pair in the literature, CGCG 077-102 NED02 is not heavily obscured, perhaps because of the surrounding intracluster medium ram-pressure stripping.

Mainly based on observations obtained with Chandra, SDSS, and OHP observatories (see acknowledgements for more details).