The Relic Radio Source B2 0924+30

Abstract

The double radio source B2 0924+30, associated with the luminous E/S0 galaxy IC2476, may be considered a prototypical genuine relic of a ‘dead’ radio galaxy as it seems to perfectly fulfill the following criteria: It has a rather steep overall radio spectrum (Ekers et al., 1981; Cordey, 1987). Its core luminosity is by far the lowest known so far (Giovannini et al., 1988). No coherent jet structure or other signs of activity are visible. Since only four possibly genuine relics of radio galaxies are known so far (Harris et al., 1993), a study of the archetypical source B2 0924+30 is of eminent importance for the understanding of this rare species of radio galaxies.