Categories of Active Galaxies
•Seyfert galaxies
–like normal spirals but with bright (> 1011L¤), point-like (rapid variability) nuclei; dusty - 75% radiation in infrared, internal Doppler motions 1000 - 3000 km /s
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•Radio galaxies (10%)
–often appear like elliptical galaxies; BUT strong radio emission (lobes) outside galactic nucleus, extend 50 - 1000 kpc ! ® result from very energetic processes in nucleus                                e.g. Centaurus A: visible ® seems like E2, 500 kpc diameter
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•All active galaxies
–vast amounts of energy emitted from or generated in central compact nucleus - jets common (indicate bursts of activity), probable origin? – galaxy-galaxy interactions
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Circinus
radio lobes