The Close Environment of OJ 287: Underlying Nebulosity and a Possible Optical Jet?

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Abstract
We present a deep V-band image of the BL Lac object OJ 287 and its close environment. Twenty-nine V images taken on 1994 January 18-21, when OJ 287 was at a low brightness level, were combined to obtain an image with a total integration time of 4.83 hr. The final image was processed using nonlinear restoration techniques (Lucy). The presence of a nebulosity surrounding OJ 287 can be distinctly seen for the first time in the deep image presented here. Comparing this image with radio maps obtained by Kollgaard et al. and Perlman & Stocke, we found that there is a coincidence between a faint optical elongation in the underlying nebulosity to the west of OJ 287 and the radio tail. Within 30'' of OJ 287, we can see several other interesting nearby features, such as three nearby companions at 34, 6'', and 10'' projected distance, with colors of distant galaxies, and another elongation which seems to emerge from OJ 287 followed by an alignment of at least four features along a position angle of 220°. We discuss the possibility of this structure (or part of it) consisting of knots that form an optical jet. We also have B, R, I, and K images taken a posteriori at other sites, some obtained under subarcsecond seeing, which were used to determine the magnitudes and colors of some of the most relevant features surrounding OJ 287.

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