Discovery and Follow-up of a Nearby Galaxy from the Arecibo Zone of Avoidance Survey

The Arecibo L-Band Feed Array Zone of Avoidance (ALFA ZOA) Survey has discovered a nearby galaxy, ALFA ZOA J1952+1428, at a heliocentric velocity of +279 km s-1. The galaxy was discovered at low Galactic latitude by 21-cm emission from neutral hydrogen (Hi). We have obtained follow-up observations with the EVLA and the 0.9-m SARA optical telescope. The Hi distribution overlaps an uncataloged, potential optical counterpart. The Hi linear size is 1.4 kpc at our adopted distance of D = 7 Mpc, but the distance estimate is uncertain as Hubble's law is unreliable at low recessional velocities. The optical counterpart has mB = 16.9 mag and B - R = 0.1 mag. These characteristics, including MHI = 107.0 M\odot and LB = 107.5 L\odot, if at 7 Mpc, indicate that this galaxy is a blue compact dwarf, but this remains uncertain until further follow-up observations are complete. Optical follow-up observations are ongoing and near infrared follow-up observations have been scheduled.