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D. Weistrop, D. Eggers, C.H. Nelson (UNLV), M.E. Kaiser (JHU)
The ``Medusa" (NGC 4194, Mrk 201) is a blue compact galaxy, with strong far infrared and radio emission. Ground-based observations exhibit a distorted image with a tidal tail and regions of strong star formation. A population of massive O and early B stars is evident from the IUE spectra (Kinney, et al. 1993). Malkan et al.'s (1998) HST survey of Seyfert and starburst galaxies notes NGC 4194 is an HII galaxy with lumpy HII regions and knots. The central starburst is apparently produced by a galaxy merger.
As part of an investigation of star formation in interacting galaxies, we have obtained ultraviolet and visible images of the central regions of NGC 4194 with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph on HST. Imaging was obtained in two ultraviolet (FUV-MAMA+F25QTZ, NUV-MAMA+F25CN182) and one visible (CCD+F28X50LP) band. Individual star forming knots (at HST resolution) have been identified. We present sizes and luminosities for the individual knots, and the knot luminosity function. We compare our data to current starburst models to constrain stellar ages and populations. Knot characteristics as a function of location in the galaxy will also be discussed.
This work has been supported in part by NASA, under contract NAS5-31231.