Minor-axis rotation in elliptical galaxies

Rotation velocities have been measured along the minor axes of 14 galaxies, all nominally classified E2, and along the major axes of 12 of these, with the goal of determining their degree of triaxiality. Two of these show no rotation along either axis at a level of 10 km/s. Two show so much rotation...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Astronomical journal 1989-07, Vol.98, p.147-165
Main Authors: Jedrzejewski, Robert, Schechter, Paul L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
640105 - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Galaxies
ANGULAR VELOCITY
CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS
CLASSIFICATION
CONFIGURATION
ELLIPTICAL CONFIGURATION
ENERGY
GALAXIES
KINETIC ENERGY
MORPHOLOGY
MOTION
PHOTOMETRY
ROTATION
VELOCITY
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Summary:Rotation velocities have been measured along the minor axes of 14 galaxies, all nominally classified E2, and along the major axes of 12 of these, with the goal of determining their degree of triaxiality. Two of these show no rotation along either axis at a level of 10 km/s. Two show so much rotation along their major axes that in spite of their E2 classification, it is suspected that they may be SOs. Of the remaining 10, five show no minor-axis rotation and four rotate more rapidly along their minor axes than along their major axes. While the sample is small, the data suggest that elliptical galaxies run the gamut from nearly oblate to nearly prolate. (Author)
ISSN:0004-6256
1538-3881
DOI:10.1086/115133