Properties of Merging Galaxies in the Nearby Universe

We have investigated properties of merging galaxies in the nearby universe, using Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) DR7. We first constructed two galaxy samples according to redshift range: Sample 1 for 0 ${\leq}$ z ${\leq}$ 0.025 and Sample 2 for 0.09 ${\leq}$ z ${\leq}$ 0.1. We then identified 118 and 184 merging galaxies among the galaxies in the Sample 1 and 2, respectively, and classified them into different merging types and stages by visual inspection of galaxy images. In the Sample 1, there are more wet mergers than dry mergers, while most merging galaxies in the Sample 2 are dry mergers. The color-magnitude diagram of the merging galaxies in our samples is comparable to that of normal galaxies. Dry mergers tend to locate in the red sequence, while wet and mixed mergers reside mostly in the blue cloud. Unlike some previous studies, we did not find a clear trend that the merger rate increases at higher redshift. However, it is difficult to make a direct comparison of the merger rate found in different studies, because it depends on the number of observed galaxies and criteria for merger classification. From the ratios of emission lines, we infer that the faction of merging galaxies with AGNs is higher in wet mergers than in other types.