| Abstract: | OIII] images and blue spectra of the emission-line dwarf galaxy F348 are presented. In OIII] light, the object contains two knots about 9” NE of the nucleus and one large extended knot 11” to the SW. The nuclear region is hundred times less luminous in emission-line light than the knots. Despite the presence of line intensity ratios OIII]λ5007/Hβ > 3 the prior classification as a Seyfert-2 object cannot be upheld. This clinches an earlier suggestion by Veron-Cetty & Veron (1986). In particular, we show that the line spectra can be modeled with photoionization models employing stellar input continua. Also, the line luminosities of the extranuclear knots are typical for giant HII regions. There is neither evidence for tidal tails nor for high velocity differences between the knots. In addition, the linear arrangement of the knots does not support interaction. It rather suggests self-propagating star formation In this picture, the faintness of the nuclear region can be understood by an edge-on view. In addition, the nuclear starburst appears to be fading in contrast to the young extranuclear star formation regions. Within the scheme of Melnick (1987), F348 has to be classified as a multiple-system HII galaxy. |
