Spectro-imagery of small diameter galaxies. I. Markarian 600 = MCG 1-08-008.

Abstract

The blue dwarf irregular galaxy Markarian 600 was observed by classical (slit) spectrography as well as bidimensional (fibre optics) spectrography. This object is found to be metal-deficient (about 1/8 solar) with an underabundant young stellar content. Two knots of gas ionized by hot stars (T_eff_ ~/- 50 000 K) are imbedded in a faint red envelope corresponding to an old stellar population. The observations can be explained in terms of a recent period of star formation at a constant rate during the last 1.5 10^8^ years. The origin of this starburst is not clear.