Spectroscopy, surface photometry, and three-dimensional models for NGC 596

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (51) References (18) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Spectroscopy, surface photometry, and three-dimensional models for NGC 596. Williams, T. B. Abstract We have obtained spectroscopy and surface photometry of the elliptical galaxy NGC 596. Spectra were taken at 30° intervals in position angle to produce partial maps of the velocity and velocity dispersion fields. The mean central velocity is 1881 ± 4 km s-1. The rotation curve is solid body to a radius of 6", then begins to flatten out by a radius of 13". The maximum rotation amplitude observed is 57 ± 9 km s-1. The position angle of the rotation axis is 30° + 4°. The central mean velocity dispersion is 147 ± 4 km s-1; there is very marginal evidence for a slight variation of velocity dispersion with radius. A CCD detector was used to obtain surface photometry of the galaxy. The position angle of the isophotes twists by 60°, accompanied by significant axis ratio variation. The radial brightness profile follows a Hubble law. The rotation axis nowhere aligns with the minor axes of the isophotes; indeed, the exterior isophote major axes align with the rotation axis. Three-dimensional models, based on dissimilar ellipsoidal shells, have been constructed which fit these observations. The models are fairly diverse, but in their exterior regions all rotate about the longest axis and most are nearly prolate there. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: March 1981 DOI: 10.1086/158722 Bibcode: 1981ApJ...244..458W Keywords: Astronomical Models; Astronomical Photometry; Astronomical Spectroscopy; Elliptical Galaxies; Galactic Rotation; Three Dimensional Models; Velocity Distribution; Angular Distribution; Axes Of Rotation; Charge Coupled Devices; Fourier Analysis; Normal Density Functions; Radial Velocity; Tables (Data); Astronomy full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (1) NED (1)