We report here the results of high-resolution and spectral imaging X-r
ay observations, with both the ROSAT HRI and PSPC, of the field surrou
nding the nearby (D = 64 Mpc) type 1 Seyfert galaxy IC 4329A and its g
iant lenticular companion IC 4329. Many point sources are detected, th
e brightest being associated with IC 4329A itself, having an extremely
bright X-ray luminosity of 6 x 10(43) erg s(-1), and spectral propert
ies compatible with a single power-law model (Gamma = 1.73), with a sp
ectral break at 0.7 keV. Two other bright sources are detected associa
ted with the companion galaxy IC 4329, and a likely quasar 14' to the
south-west. We have also established, through optical observations tak
en at the European Southern Observatory, that three further X-ray poin
t sources, intriguingly positioned with respect to IC 4329A, are in fa
ct nothing to do with the system, and are merely foreground and backgr
ound objects. In addition to point source emission, residual, unresolv
ed emission is detected surrounding the IC 4329A/ IC 4329 pair, extend
ing for some 200 kpc. This emission appears markedly two-component, co
mprising of a spectrally hard and smooth component, circularly-distrib
uted about the central galaxy pair, and a spectrally soft, more clumpy
component, positioned almost entirely to the south-east of IC 4329A.
The hard component of the residual emission itself appears two-compone
nt, one component being due to the 'wings' of the intensely bright IC
4329A source, the other, apparently due to hot (similar to 1.5 keV) ga
s, likely associated with the galaxy group of which IC 4329A and IC 43
29 are members. The soft component of the residual emission may be a l
arger version of the superwinds seen around some ultraluminous far-inf
rared galaxies, or may even represent a 'stripped wake' of intragroup
gas. Evidence for shocked gas due to the central IC 4329A/ IC4329 inte
raction is also found between the two central galaxies.