VLBA12B-337

A Remarkable Spectral Line/Continuum Outburst in NGC660

Abstract

Arecibo observations have detected a radio continuum and spectral-line outburst in the nearby peculiar galaxy, NGC 660. A new continuum component with GHz Peaked Spectrum (GPS) emission and a peak flux density of about 0.5 Jy at 5 GHz has appeared between 2008.0 and 2012.0. This continuum outburst has been mimicked by the parallel development of OH maser emission/absorption in the 4660-, 4750- and 4765-MHz transitions of OH. H2CO absorption is also detected against the new continuum component. The likely nature of this event is either a SN explosion, or an outburst in the galactic nucleus of NGC 660. Here we propose HSA C- and X-band observations in an attempt to determine the nature of the outburst, and to investigate the relation of the OH maser emission to the continuum source. We expect to propose further observations later to study the evolution of this event.

Investigators

Name	Institution
Christopher Salter *	National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center
Tapasi Ghosh	Green Bank Observatory
Robert Minchin	National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Emmanuel Momjian	National Radio Astronomy Observatory

* indicates the PI