AAS 200th meeting, Albuquerque, NM, June 2002
Session 45. The New Radio Universe
Display, Tuesday, June 4, 2002, 10:00am-6:30pm, SW Exhibit Hall

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[45.06] Relativistic Jet Kinematics of the GPS Source PKS 1345+125

M. Lister (NRAO)

We present 15 GHz multi-epoch VLBA observations of the gigahertz-peaked spectrum (GPS) source PKS 1345+125. The radio structure of this nearby AGN consists of a bent jet and counter-jet with an overall length of ~250 pc. We report the detection of superluminal motion near the base of the approaching jet, which is highly unusual for a GPS source. The source resides in a ultraluminous infrared galaxy which has been detected in both CO (1-0) and X-rays. The host galaxy contains two optical nuclei separated by ~4 kpc, the westernmost of which is thought to harbor the radio jets. We discuss the possibility that a recent merger may have triggered a precession in the jet axis of PKS 1345+125, resulting in its apparently bent morphology. Using a simple ballistic model, we discuss how light-travel time effects may account for the observed asymmetry and brightness distribution in the jet and counter-jet.


The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: mlister@nrao.edu

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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 34
© 2002. The American Astronomical Soceity.