"Spectroscopy of star-forming regions in UV bright, interacting starburst galaxies"

Aaron G. Frazier is a student at Drake University and Charles Nelson is Assistant Professor of Astronomy at Drake. He can be contacted at charles.nelson@drake.eduWe have obtained long-slit spectroscopy of the star-forming regions in NGC3395, NGC3396, NGC3991, NGC3994, and NGC3995 emit strongly in the ultraviolet, indicating multiple regions of active star formation. To investigate the nature of the star formation, we obtained U, B, V, and R images using the 40 inch telescope at Mt. Laguna. Our goal is to determine the sequence of star-formation episodes in these systems. Possibilities include a "chain reaction" - one burst triggering another burst and so on - or a continuity of stellar formation that remains apporximately constant with time.Drake University, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Physics and Astronomy