Astron. Astrophys. 336, L37-L40 (1998)

Letter to the Editor

Renewed Radio Activity of Age 370 years in the Extragalactic Source 0108+388

I. Owsianik ¹, J.E. Conway ² and A.G. Polatidis <sup>2, 3

1</sup> Toru Centre for Astronomy, Radio Astronomy Department, ul.Gagarina 11, PL-87 100 Toru, Poland (e-mail: iza@astro.uni.torun.pl)
² Onsala Space Observatory, S-439 92 Onsala, Sweden
³ Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe, Postbus 2, 77990, AA Dwingeloo, The Netherlands

Received 27 March 1998 / Accepted 23 June 1998

Abstract

We present the results of multi-epoch global VLBI observations of the Compact Symmetric Object (CSO) 0108+388 at 5 GHz. Analysis of data spread over 12 years shows strong evidence for an increase in the separation of the outer components at a rate of . Given an overall size of 22.2 pc this implies a kinematic age of only yrs. This result strongly supports the idea that radio emission in Compact Symmetric Objects arises from recently activated radio sources. The presence of weak radio emission on kpc-scales in 0108+388 suggests recurrent activity in this source, and that we are observing it just as a new period of activity is beginning.

Key words: radio continuum: galaxies galaxies: active compact evolution - jets individual: 0108+388

Send offprint requests to: I. Owsianik

© European Southern Observatory (ESO) 1998

Online publication: July 20, 1998

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