Probing the pc-scale environment of the powerful key object radio galaxy Hercules A

Gizani, N. A. B. (1), Garrett, M. A.  (2), Leahy, J. P.  (3), and Augusto, P. (4)

(1) Centro de Ciências Matemáticas, Universidade da Madeira, Campus Universitário da Penteada, Funchal, Portugal
(2) Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe, AA Dwingeloo, The Netherlands
(3) University of Manchester, Jodrell Bank Observatories, Cheshire, UK
(4) University of Madeira, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

We present the most recent results from the first stage analysis of the radio data on the pc-scale structure of the powerful radio galaxy Hercules A, observed at 18 cm by the EVN - MERLIN array. The main goal of these observations was to try and detect any pc-scale jet emission on both sides of the central engine, to map the transition region between these and the kpc-scale jets with the highest possible resolution and to resolve the inner jets in detail. A faint, 14 mJy, but compact radio source, coincident with the optical centre of Hercules A was detected by EVN. A misalignment of about 35° between a possible emission from the pc-scale jets and the kpc-scale ones has also been detected.

Class:	Article
Links:	ADS
Reference:	Gizani, N.A.B., Garrett, M.A., Leahy, J.P., Augusto, P.; 2001, Astron. & Astroph. Transactions, vol. 20, p. 263-266 (ISSN1055-6796).
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