1996A&A...307..365N

We present deep long slit spectra of Mkn 79 in position angles PA=12deg and PA=50deg obtained with the WHT. These data prove the existence of an extended narrow line region in PA=12deg, which coincides with the triplet radio structure (Ulvestad & Wilson 1984) and the observed outflow of material from the nucleus at PA=10deg (Whittle et al. 1988). The ratios of the high to low ionization lines indicate a higher level of gas excitation in PA=12deg compared to PA=50deg. The [NII]λ6583/Hα and [SII]λ6717,31/Hα versus [OIII]λ5007/Hβ line ratios are consistent with excitation by an AGN continuum rather than a HII region.