The first 62 AGNs observed with SDSS-IV MaNGA : I. Their characterization and definition of a control sample

We report the characterization of the first 62 Mapping Nearby Galaxies at the Apache Point Observatory active galactic nuclei (AGNs) hosts and the definition of a control sample of non-active galaxies. This control sample was selected in order to match the AGN hosts in terms of stellar mass, redshift, visual morphology and inclination. The stellar masses are in the range 9.4 < log M/M < 11.5, and most objects have redshifts ≤0.08. The AGN sample is mostly comprised low-luminosity AGN, with only 17 ‘strong AGN’ with L([O III]λ5007 Å) ≥ 3.8 × 1040 erg s−1. The inner 1–3 kpc of the control sample galaxies are dominated by the oldest (≥ 4Gyr) component, with a small contribution of intermediate age and young stars (