Abstract
New observations of the very red quasar or BL Lac object PKS 1413+135 are presented. Optical imaging and spectroscopy confirm the claim that the host galaxy to this BL Lac is a spiral, and H-band imaging shows the point source centered in the galaxy to within 0″.1 A reanalysis of Einstein X-ray data finds evidence for an extremely large column density in this source of n(H) ≥ 2 × 1022 cm2. The Av ≥ 30 mag suggested by this n(H) can produce the unusual near-IR exponential decline in the spectrum of PKS 1413+135, at variance with previous interpretations. While the astrometric evidence supports the hypothesis that PKS 1413+135 is the very unusual case of a BL Lac object in a spiral galaxy, a highly extincted nuclear source would produce other observable features in this galaxy that are not observed: narrow emission-line region and large thermal IR flux. Their absence argues for this source being background to the spiral.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | L17-L20 |
Journal | Astrophysical Journal |
Volume | 400 |
Issue number | 1 PART 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 20 1992 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- BL Lacertae objects: general
- Galaxies: ISM
- Gravitational lensing
- Polarization
- X-rays: galaxies
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Space and Planetary Science