Reclassification of the nearest quasar pair candidate: SDSS J15244+3032–RXS J15244+3032

Abstract

We present optical spectroscopy of the nearest quasar pair listed in the 13 th edition of the Véron-Cetty & Véron catalogue, i.e. the two quasars SDSS J15244+3032 and RXS J15244+3032 (redshift z ≈ 0.27, angular separation ∆θ ≈ 7 ′′ , and line-ofsight velocity difference ∆V ≈ 1900 km/s). This system would be an optimal candidate to investigate the mutual interaction of the host galaxies with ground based optical imaging and spectroscopy. However, new optical data demonstrate that RXS J15244+3032 is indeed a star of spectral type G. This paper includes data gathered with the Asiago 1.82 m telescope (Cima Ekar Observatory, Asiago, Italy).