New double jet model for 3C 449

The radio source 3C 449 contains a point source with two radio jets extending from it and is associated with a cD galaxy at redshift Z = 0.0181. Both jets undergo periodic oscillations in position angle as a function of radius from the point source. The whole configuration shows a reflection symmetry about an axis through the point source and therefore could not be explained by a precessing beam model. Our model is that of a massive object orbiting approx.1 kpc from the center of the cD galaxy and emitting twin beams, with V/sub beam/roughly-equal6.25 V/sub orb/. It is this periodic orbital velocity component added to the beam velocity which produces the observed beam oscillations and explains the observed mirror symmetry of the beams. The predicted beam velocity is in agreement with independent radio determinations. Since cD galaxies often have multiple nuelci and may be the result of galaxy mergers, finding a massive object 1 kpc from the center would be quite plausible