Two interacting galaxies hiding as one, revealed by MaNGA
Barbara Mazzilli Ciraulo, Anne-Laure Melchior, Daniel Maschmann, Ivan, Yu. Katkov, Ana\"elle Halle, Fran\c{c}oise Combes, Joseph. D. Gelfand, Aisha, Al Yazeedi

TL;DR
This paper reveals a complex galaxy merger hidden by superimposed rotating discs, using multi-component analysis of MaNGA data to uncover the interaction stage and underlying mechanisms.
Contribution
It introduces a method to identify and analyze superimposed galaxies in MaNGA data, revealing a pre-coalescence merger stage with detailed kinematic and star formation insights.
Findings
Two distinct rotating discs superimposed along the line of sight.
Evidence of recent starbursts and gas accretion events.
Mass ratio of 9:1 indicating a minor merger stage.
Abstract
Given their prominent role in galaxy evolution, it is of paramount importance to unveil galaxy interactions and merger events and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. The use of high-resolution data makes it easier to identify merging systems, but it can still be challenging when the morphology does not show any clear galaxy-pair or gas bridge. Characterising the origin of puzzling kinematic features can help to reveal complicated systems. Here, we present a merging galaxy, MaNGA 1-114955, in which we highlighted the superimposition of two distinct rotating discs along the line of sight. These counter-rotating objects both lie on the star-forming main sequence but display perturbed stellar velocity dispersions. The main galaxy presents off-centred star formation as well as off-centred high-metallicity regions supporting the scenario of recent starbursts, while the secondary galaxy…
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