Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Seyfert's Sextet: A Slowly Dissolving Stephan's Quintet?, A Durbala, A Del Olmo, Min Yun, M Rosado, Jw Sulentic, H Plana, A Iovino, J Perea, L Verdes-Montenegro, I Fuentes-Carrera

Astronomy Department Faculty Publication Series

We present a multiwavelength study of the highly evolved compact galaxy group known as Seyfert's Sextet (HCG79: SS). We interpret SS as a 2-3 Gyr more evolved analog of Stephan's Quintet (HCG92: SQ). We postulate that SS formed by sequential acquisition of 4-5 primarily late-type field galaxies. Four of the five galaxies show an early-type morphology which is likely the result of secular evolution driven by gas stripping. Stellar stripping has produced a massive/luminous halo and embedded galaxies that are overluminous for their size. These are interpreted as remnant bulges of the accreted spirals. H79d could be interpreted as the …