Preliminary characterization of an active spiral galaxy near m57

TL;DR

This paper presents preliminary spectral analyses of a nearby spiral galaxy IC 1296 and a faint object WISEA J185309.64+330538.7 near M57, revealing active galactic nuclei features and estimating distances at Skinakas Observatory.

Contribution

It provides new spectral data and initial classifications for IC 1296 and WISEA J185309.64+330538.7, highlighting their active nuclei and potential galaxy types.

Findings

IC 1296 shows signs of being a Seyfert 1.5 galaxy.

WISEA J185309.64+330538.7 is a Seyfert 1 radio galaxy.

Both galaxies exhibit active galactic nuclei features.

Abstract

M57 is one of the most observed and popular planetary nebulae. Recently, the James Webb Space Telescope photographed it, capturing fascinating images (NASA, 2023). As is the case with other well-known and popular objects, there are other nearby astronomical objects of interest that can sometimes go unnoticed. Very close to this nebula (at coordinates 18:53:18.81 +33:03:59.89 -in j2000-), there is an intriguing spiral galaxy of type SBbc, known as IC 1296. At a greater angular distance from M57 and IC 1296, at coordinates 18:53:09.625 +33:05:38.85, there is a very faint object called WISEA J185309.64+330538.7. The author presents preliminary results of the spectral analyses of both galaxies, obtained at the Skinakas Observatory (Greece), providing some conclusions about their types and, in the case of WISEA J185309.64+330538.7, its distance. Both galaxies exhibit traces of having active galactic nuclei, with WISEA J185309.64+330538.7 being a radio galaxy with Seyfert 1 characteristics, while IC 1296 shows some lines that could indicate its membership in the intermediate category Seyfert 1.5 (between Seyfert 1 and 2), in addition to being a known X-ray emitter.