III Zw 2 was first discovered byFritz Zwicky via a 48-inch Schmidt survey as a stellar object with faint wisps.[3] However, it was confirmed to have a Seyfert morphology with classical broadline characteristic based on furtherspectroscopic studies.[4] It was also included in Palomar Green quasar sample.[5]
The host galaxy of III Zw 2 was initially classified as aspiral galaxy.[6][7] However according to a recent study made on its budge and disk decomposition viaHubble Space Telescope in 2009, it has since been reclassified as anelliptical galaxy.[8] It has a star-forming tidal bridge feature indicating amerger with a companion galaxy.[9] Furthermore, III Zw 2 belongs to a class of radio-intermediatequasars[10] and is a member of a triple galaxy system.[11]
The nucleus of III Zw 2 is active. In additional, to its superluminal jet, the galaxy shows two distinctiveγ-ray flares happening between November 2009 and May 2010, according to observations byFermi-LAT.[11] It is also known to have a highly variable radio coreflux density between factor of 20-30.[12]
III Zw 2 contains asupermassive black hole[13] of 7.4 × 108M⊙.[14] The black hole is responsible for producing an ionized wind outflow with avelocity of (−1780 ± 670) km s−1.[15] Approximately every five years the galaxy emits dramatic radio outbursts.[16][17]
^Brunthaler, A.; Falcke, H.; Bower, G. C.; Aller, M. F.; Aller, H. D.; Teraesranta, H. (2000-09-28),III Zw 2: superluminal expansion and compact lobe expansion in a Seyfert galaxy,arXiv:astro-ph/0009468
^Brunthaler, A.; Falcke, H.; Bower, G. C.; Aller, M. F.; Aller, H. D.; Teraesranta, H. (2000-09-28),III Zw 2: superluminal expansion and compact lobe expansion in a Seyfert galaxy,arXiv:astro-ph/0009468
^Brunthaler, A.; Falcke, H.; Bower, G. C.; Aller, M. F.; Aller, H. D.; Terasranta, H.; Krichbaum, T. P. (2002),III Zw 2: Evolution of a Radio Galaxy in a Nutshell,CiteSeerX10.1.1.9.2332
