Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2002-01-26
Astrophys.J. 570 (2002) 610-617
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
10 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal Part I
Scientific paper
We estimate the distribution of apparent axis ratios $q$ for galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Early Data Release. We divide the galaxies by profile type (de Vaucouleurs versus exponential) as well as by color ($u^* - r^* \leq 2.22$ versus $u^* - r^* > 2.22$). The axis ratios found by fitting models to the surface photometry are generally smaller than those found by taking the second moments of the surface brightness distribution. Using the axis ratios found from fitting models, we find that galaxies with de Vaucouleurs profiles have axis ratio distributions which are inconsistent, at the 99% confidence level, with their being a population of randomly oriented oblate spheroids. Red de Vaucouleurs galaxies are slightly rounder, on average, than blue de Vaucouleurs galaxies. By contrast, blue galaxies with exponential profiles appear very much flatter, on average, than red galaxies with exponential profiles. The red exponential galaxies are primarily disk galaxies seen nearly edge-on, with reddening due to the presence of dust, rather than to an intrinsically red stellar population.
Khairul Alam S. M.
Ryden Barbara S.
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