Reclassification of the nearest quasar pair candidate: SDSS J15244+3032 - RXS J15244+3032

TL;DR

This study reclassifies a suspected quasar pair as a star, demonstrating the importance of spectroscopic verification in astrophysical object classification.

Contribution

It provides a detailed spectroscopic analysis that corrects the previous classification of RXS J15244+3032 from a quasar to a star.

Findings

RXS J15244+3032 is a G-type star, not a quasar.

The initial quasar pair candidate was misclassified based on optical imaging.

Spectroscopic data is crucial for accurate astrophysical object classification.

Abstract

We present optical spectroscopy of the nearest quasar pair listed in the 13th edition of the Veron-Cetty & Veron catalogue, i.e. the two quasars SDSS J15244+3032 and RXS J15244+3032 (redshift z~0.27, angular separation ~7 arcsec, and line-of-sight velocity difference ~1900 km/s). This system would be an optimal candidate to investigate the mutual interaction of the host galaxies with ground based optical imaging and spectroscopy. However, new optical data demonstrate that RXS J15244+3032 is indeed a star of spectral type G. This paper includes data gathered with the Asiago 1.82m telescope (Cima Ekar Observatory, Asiago, Italy).