An RXTE Observation of NGC 6300: A New Bright Compton Reflection-dominated Seyfert 2 Galaxy

Scanning and pointed Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) observations of the nearby Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 6300 reveal that it is a source of hard X-ray continuum and large equivalent-width Fe Kα emission. These properties are characteristic of Compton reflection-dominated Seyfert 2 galaxies. The continuum can be modeled as Compton reflection; subsolar iron abundance is required, and a high inclination is preferred. However, the poor energy resolution of RXTE means that this description is not unique, and the continuum can also be modeled using a "dual absorber," i.e., a sum of absorbed power laws. Observations with higher energy resolution detectors will cleanly discriminate between these two models. Optical observations support the Compton reflection-dominated interpretation as LX/L is low. NGC 6300 is notable because with F2-10 ≈ 6.4 × 10-12 ergs cm-2 s-1, it is the second brightest such object known.