The anomalous properties of Markarian 1460

We present and discuss optical, near-infrared and H I measurements of the g alaxy Markarian 1460 at a distance of 19 Mpc in the Ursa Major Cluster. Thi s low-luminosity (M-B = -14) galaxy is unusual because (i) it is blue (B-R = 0.8) and has the spectrum of an H ii galaxy, (ii) it has a light profile that is smooth and well fitted by an r(1/4) and not an exponential function at all radii larger than the seeing, and (iii) it has an observed central brightness of about rhoB = 20 mag arcsec(-2), intermediate between those of elliptical galaxies (on the bright muB side) and normal low-luminosity dwa rf irregular (on the low muB side) galaxies. No other known galaxy exhibits all these properties in conjunction. On morphological grounds this galaxy looks like a normal distant luminous elliptical galaxy, since the Fundament al Plane tells us that higher luminosity normal elliptical galaxies tend to have lower surface-brightnesses. Markarian 1460 has 2 x 10(7) M-circle dot of H I and a ratio M(H I)/L-B of 0.2, which is low compared to the typical values for star-forming dwarf galaxies. From the high surface-brightness a nd r(1/4) profile, we infer that the baryonic component of Markarian 1460 h as become self-gravitating through dissipative processes. From the colours, radio continuum, H i and optical emission line properties, and yet smooth texture, we infer that Markarian 1460 has had significant star formation as recently as similar to1 Gyr ago but not today.