The Ultraluminous X-Ray Source X-37 Is a Background Quasar in the Antennae Galaxies
D. M. Clark, M. H. Christopher, S. S. Eikenberry, B. R. Brandl, J. C. Wilson, J. C. Carson, C. P. Henderson, T. L. Hayward, D. J. Barry, A. F. Ptak, E. J. M. Colbert
2005
Astrophysical Journal
In this paper we report that a bright, X-ray source in the Antennae galaxies (NGC 4038/9), previously identified as an ultra-luminous X-ray source, is in fact a background quasar. We identify an isolated infrared and optical counterpart within 0.3+/-0.5 arcseconds the X-ray source X-37. After acquiring an optical spectrum of its counterpart, we use the narrow [OIII] and broad H_alpha emission lines to identify X-37 as a quasar at a redshift of z=0.26. Through a U, V, and K_s photometric
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... , we demonstrate that most of the observable light along this line of sight is from the quasar. We discuss the implications of this discovery and the importance of acquiring spectra for optical and IR counterparts to ULXs.
doi:10.1086/497333
fatcat:rifzdwysjvabzczjj4jwss6r7u