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Keck Adaptive Optics Observations of the Radio Galaxy 3C294: A Merging System at z = 1.786?

A. Quirrenbach·J. E. Roberts·K. Fidkowski·W. de Vries·W. van Breugel
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Abstract

We present seeing-limited and adaptive optics (AO) images of the z = 1.786 radio galaxy 3C294 in the H and K' infrared bands obtained at Keck Observatory. The infrared emission of 3C294 is dominated by two distinct components separated by ~1" (9 kpc). The eastern knot contains an unresolved core that contributes ~4% of the K'-band light; we identify this core with the active nucleus. The western component is about 2.5 times brighter. The most plausible interpretation of the near-infrared morphology is an ongoing merger event, with the active nucleus located in the less massive of the two galaxies.

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A. Quirrenbach, J. E. Roberts, K. Fidkowski, W. de Vries, W. van Breugel. 2001-03-21. Keck Adaptive Optics Observations of the Radio Galaxy 3C294: A Merging System at z = 1.786?. https://doi.org/10.1086/321564

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