A possible X-ray jet from the starburst galaxy NGC6217

Abstract

Deep ROSAT PSPC and HRI observations of the nuclear starburst, UV flat spectrum spiral NGC6217 reveal a jet-like X-ray filament extending out 2.7' (18.8 kpc) to the SW of the galaxy. Radio images of NGC6217 show an extent in the same direction, giving further evidence for a one-sided X-ray jet interpretation of this feature. It's X-ray spectrum is harder than that of NGC6217 and the luminosity in the 0.5-2.0 keV band ~1.7 E39 erg\s. We compare our findings to parameters of other X-ray jets from other active galaxies. We also give positions of a total of 91 X-ray sources detected in the field to a limiting 0.5-2.0 keV flux of ~2.2E-15 erg\cm**2\s and propose optical and radio identifications. Some of these sources have been identified in the RIXOS program.

9 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in A&A a full resolution file is available at http://www.rosat.mpe-garching.mpg.de/~wnp/