Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jun 2005
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2005aj....129.2636k&link_type=abstract
The Astronomical Journal, Volume 129, Issue 6, pp. 2636-2642.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
19
Galaxies: Elliptical And Lenticular, Cd, Galaxies: Evolution, Galaxies: Individual: Ngc Number: Ngc 4486A
Scientific paper
Many ellipticals contain nuclear disks of dust and gas. Some ellipticals contain nuclear disks of stars that are distinct from the rest of the galaxy. We show that the dwarf E2 galaxy NGC 4486A contains both-it is a ``Rosetta stone'' object that tells us how nuclear disks evolve. Its properties suggest that, as accreted gas dissipates and settles toward the center, it forms stars and builds a stellar disk. Secular growth may explain not only the most distinct nuclear disks such as the one in NGC 4486A but also some of the disky distortions that are commonly seen in elliptical galaxies. That is, density distributions may grow secularly cuspier. This would result in chaotic mixing of stellar orbits in phase space and would tend to make an elliptical galaxy evolve toward a more nearly axisymmetric shape.
Based on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by AURA, Inc., under NASA contract NAS5-26555.
Drory Niv
Fisher David B.
Gebhardt Karl
Kormendy John
Macchetto Ferdinando D.
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