The composite galaxy NGC 6764: Nuclear activity and circumnuclear star formation

We investigated the kinematics and ionization mechanism of the innermost arc seconds of the nucleus of NGC 6764 (SBb), using spatially-resolved optical spectra. The observed radial variations of the emission line ratios cannot be explained by one single-ionizing agent, but are consistent with circumnuclear ionizeation by hot stars in addition to a central power-law source. We conclude that NGC 6764 is a Composite Galactic Nucleus (CGN).Visiting Astronomer, German-Spanish Astronomical Center, Calar Alto, operated by the Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie in Heidelberg jointly with the Spanish National Commission for Astronomy.