Other
Scientific paper
Feb 1998
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1998mnras.294..182c&link_type=abstract
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 294, p. 182
Other
10
Elliptical Galaxies, Shell Galaxies, Galactic Structure, Axes Of Rotation, Galactic Rotation, Mass Distribution, Kinematics, Prolate Spheroids
Scientific paper
We present kinematic observations of NGC 3923, one of the best-known examples of an elliptical galaxy with shells. Although NGC 3923 has no rotation on its major axis, it has minor axis rotation with an amplitude of some 20 km/s out to 25 arcsec radius. This is possibly the result of a kinematically decoupled core, but we present arguments against this hypothesis, and if the core was formed by a merger, this must have been a different merger from that which gave rise to the shells. The minor axis rotation suggests that NGC 3923 is prolate or triaxial, at least in the inner region. A prolate geometry for the whole galaxy would favor the merger model over the interaction model for the shell formation mechanism. There is other evidence, however, that the shape of the underlying galaxy changes with radius, in which case it is possible that the minor axis rotation could be confined to the galaxy core. The kinematics could reflect a triaxial mass distribution, in which the long and short axes are aligned with the photometric major and minor axes, and the axial ratios change such that the galaxy is near-prolate in the inner regions and near-oblate at larger radii. Measuring the rotation curve to about double this radius along the minor axis, as well as offset from the nucleus along the major axis at the radius of the innermost shells, would enable the true extent of the minor axis rotation to be determined.
Carter David
Hau George K. T.
Thomson Robert C.
No associations
LandOfFree
Minor axis rotation and the intrinsic shape of the shell elliptical NGC 3923 does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Minor axis rotation and the intrinsic shape of the shell elliptical NGC 3923, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Minor axis rotation and the intrinsic shape of the shell elliptical NGC 3923 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1226967