US 3215: An Active gE2 Galaxy

The object US 3215 is an optically variable galaxy with very broad Balmer lines, relatively strong forbidden lines, and a weak UV-excess continuum. It has been classed as a Seyfert 1 galaxy. We report that optical CCD images taken in excellent seeing reveal a central miniquasar in an elliptical galaxy with a de Vaucouleurs profile extending across an angular diameter of ~ 13 arcsec. This corresponds to a linear size of almost 50 kpc (H₀ = 50 km s⁻¹ Mpc⁻¹). Our data indicate that the host galaxy is of type gE2 and is the gravitational center of a cluster of galaxies. A companion galaxy is observed at a projected distance of 24 kpc. H and K magnitudes were obtained and the index H—K is consistent with quasar colors. A VLA snapshot at 1425 MHz gives an upper limit to radio emission at a flux level of 0.2 mJy beam⁻¹ that is consistent with the Sy 1 designation. Thus US 3215 appears to be an active broad-line cluster gE2 galaxy.