Radio continuum activity in the elliptical galaxy NGC 1052

Aperture synthesis maps of the continuum emission from the nucleus of the elliptical galaxy NGC 1052 (0238-084) are presented at two frequencies near 1.5 GHz. The radio emission is dominated by a compact, flat-spectrum core of extent ⪉1" (93 pc). A 30" (2.8 kpc) double source straddles the compact core, in contrast with the usual compact core plus jet morphology. The 30" source shows a collimated, bent, and asymmetric structure. Embedded within each lobe of the double source is an active region which exhibits a relatively flat spectral index (-0.4), perhaps indicating the occurrence of in situ particle acceleration. The predicted inverse Compton X-ray flux from both active regions is four orders of magnitude below the observed level, making it unlikely that this emission mechanism is the cause of the galaxy's elongated X-ray image. The active regions are in pressure balance with the postshock gas associated with the "clouds" of gas which form the extended optical line-emitting region.