POSITION-SENSITIVE PROPORTIONAL COUNTER SOFT-X-RAY OBSERVATIONS OF SEYFERT 2 GALAXIES

We present the results from ROSAT PSPC soft X-ray (0.1-2.0 keV) observations of six Seyfert 2 galaxies, chosen from the brightest Seyfert 2's detected with the Einstein Imaging Proportional Counter. All of the targets were detected with the ROSAT PSPC. Spatial analysis shows that the source density within a few arcminutes of each Seyfert 2 galaxy is a factor of approximately 8 higher than in the rest of the inner field of view of the PSPC images. In NGC 1365 it appears that the serendipitous sources may be X-ray binary systems in the host galaxy. The proximity of the serendipitous sources, typically within a few arcminutes of the target Seyfert 2, means that previous X-ray observations of the Seyfert 2 galaxies have been significantly contaminated, and that source confusion is important on a spatial scale of approximately 1'. Some spectra, most notably Mrk 3 and NGC 1365, indicate the presence of a high equivalent width soft X-ray line blend consistent with unresolved iron L and oxygen K emission.