2000A&A...354..439K

We present H and K band imaging spectroscopy of the core regions of the cD/AGN galaxy NGC 1275. The spectra, including lines from H₂, H, ¹²CO bandheads, [FeII], and [FeIII], are exploited to constrain the star formation and excitation mechanisms in the galaxy's nucleus. The near-infrared properties can largely be accounted for by ionized gas in the NLR, dense molecular gas, and hot dust concentrated near the active nucleus of NGC 1275. The strong and compact H₂ emission is mostly from circumnuclear gas excited by the AGN and not from the cooling flow. The extended emission of late-type stars is diluted in the center by the thermal emission of hot dust. The line ratios [FeII]/Brγ, as well as [FeII]/H₂ can be explained with X-ray excitation from the central AGN.