1999/04/13 by K. M. Leighly, Karen M. Leighly, Jules P. Halpern +9 · 4 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/307649
11 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ (Sept. 1 1999, Vol. 522 #1)
arxiv created 1999/04/13 · openalex publication_date 1999/09/01 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
Scanning and pointed Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer ( RXTE ) observations of the nearby Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 6300 reveal that it is a source of hard X-ray continuum and large equivalent-width Fe Kα emission. These properties are characteristic of Compton reflection-dominated Seyfert 2 galaxies. The continuum can be modeled as Compton reflection; subsolar iron abundance is required, and a high inclination is preferred. However, the poor energy resolution of RXTE means that this description is not unique, and the continuum can also be modeled using a "dual absorber," i.e., a sum of absorbed power laws. Observations with higher energy resolution detectors will cleanly discriminate between these two models. Optical observations support the Compton reflection-dominated interpretation as L X / L is low. NGC 6300 is notable because with F 2-10 ≈ 6.4 × 10 -12 ergs cm -2 s -1 , it is the second brightest such object known.