Bibcode
Grisé, F.; Pakull, M.; Motch, C.
Bibliographical reference
Proceedings of the The X-ray Universe 2005 (ESA SP-604). 26-30 September 2005, El Escorial, Madrid, Spain. Editor: A. Wilson, p.451
Advertised on:
1
2006
Citations
14
Refereed citations
13
Description
We present optical observations of a ULX in the nearby spiral galaxy IC
342. This variable source has an average X-ray luminosity of some
10^{40} erg/s. At the position of the source there is an ionized nebula
(the "Tooth") having huge dimensions (280 x 130 pc), much larger than
normal supernova remnants. Our optical spectra reveal highly supersonic
expansion velocities and emission line ratios typical of SNRs. It has
been claimed that two [OIII] 5007 bright regions in the nebula might be
indicative of excitation by non-isotropic emission from the ULX.
However, our continuum subtracted [OIII] 5007 image reveals that O^{++}
ions are rather smoothly distributed in the nebula, fully consistent
with shock excitation. Within the nebula we find two candidate stars
(V=24.0 & 24.6) in the Chandra X-ray error circle. Both are
substantially reddened being consistent with the patchy interstellar
absorption. We will discuss the nature of this source in the framework
of what is currently known about optical counterparts of ULXs.