Recent star formation in several galaxies of the tidally disturbed system HCG 31

High-resolution (0. 7 to 0. 8) H alpha images of the Hickson Compact Group 31 (HCG 31) obtained with the WIYN telescope are used in conjunction with broadband optical images from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) to examine the star formation history and properties of the component galaxies. The high spatial resolution of the WIYN telescope has allowed us to identify a large number of starburst regions from their H alpha emission, which traces the recent star birth activity. The HST images of galaxies E and F reveal more detail within the starburst regions in which we have identified numerous super star clusters (SSCs). Photometry of these starburst regions and SSCs in the H alpha and optical images indicates that there has been a substantial amount of star formation throughout HGC 31 over the past 10 Myr. The H alpha equivalent widths suggest activity within the group as recently as a few megayears ago. There is evidence that galaxy F, the youngest member of the group, is possibly undergoing its initial episode of star formation, as no underlying stellar population has yet been detected.