New optical and radio observations of the X-ray galaxies NGC 7582 and NGC 2992

Radio maps and spectrophotometric observations are presented of two X-ray emitting emission-line galaxies, NGC 7582 and 2992, which suggest that their nuclear emission has Seyfert-like characteristics. These are contrasted with the properties of the companion galaxies NGC 7552 and 2993 which, although exhibiting emission-line spectra, are thought to be dominated by thermal processes. Direct AAT plates show the presence of substantial amounts of dust in all four galaxies. Estimates of the extinctions appropriate to the emission-line and continuum-emitting regions are made. Asub(V) approximately 3.5 to 4.0 mag is found for the emission lines and Asub(V) approximately 1.0 mag for the continuum. The total energy distributions of NGC 7582 and 2992 are very similar and may be explained by simple Synchrotron Self-Compton theory. These galaxies are typical of nearby galaxies which exhibit non-thermal activity. (author)