Abstract
We present a detailed spectrophotometric analysis of the blue compact dwarf galaxy Mrk5 (NGC353, Haro3), based on deep BVRIJHK broad-band and H α narrow-band observations, and long-slit spectroscopy. The optical emission of the galaxy is dominated by a central young starburst, distributed in a bar-like shape, while an underlying component of older stars, with elliptical isophotes and red colors, extends more than 4 kpc from the central starburst. We used spatially resolved spectrophotometry to analyze the properties of the 8 strongest Hα emitters (young star-forming regions) of the galaxy, as well as of the optical nucleus, defined as the peak of emission in the broad-band frames. Using Hα and color maps we spatially discriminate the central starburst from the underlying populations of stars. We fit a 2D Sérsic model to derive the structural properties of the host galaxy. Finally, we apply evolutionary synthesis models to derive the properties of the young star-forming knots.
