The peculiar galaxy NGC 1487

Photometric and spectroscopic observations of the peculiar galaxy NGC 1487 are presented, Colors through its main body indicate about the same blue stellar composition plus an outwards increasing contribution of a reddish component. The blue colors (B-V=0.11-0.38) of several condensations suggest ongoing star formation. The three most notable central ones have characteristics typical of H II regions; their measured abundances are low. An inhomogeneous internal reddening is detected. The derived radial velocities do not show a disk with circular velocities. The equivalent widths of the H alpha+[N II] emission lines of the three mentioned condensations indicate star formation rates higher than in isolated galaxies and are comparable to those observed in mergers of two disk galaxies. The derived information together with the morphological structure of NGC 1487 suggests that it is the product of a merger process between two late-type galaxies. (C) 1997 American Astronomical Society.