IC 4767 (the X-galaxy) - the missing link for understanding galaxies with peanut-shaped bulges

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/165933· OSTI ID:5332615

Whitmore, B C; Bell, M

Photometric and kinematic observations of the peculiar S0 galaxy IC 4767, the X-galaxy, are presented. At various intensities the bulge of this galaxy looks like a normal spheroidal system with elliptical isophotes, a well-defined rectangle, and a peanut-shaped or X-shaped structure with components aligned at oblique angles to the major axis. The observations reveal a rapidly rotating inner disk of gas and dust which is nearly aligned with the major axis. The presence of gaseous emission alone suggests an accretion event. The stars in the outer regions of the X-component are rotating nearly as rapidly as the gas in the main disk, indicating that they are in relatively circular orbits. The five most prominent peanut-shaped bulges all have several nearby companions, evidence that the peanut deformity is due to interaction between galaxies. An analogy with the formation mechanism proposed for polar-ring galaxies suggests how an X-shaped component could develop from the accretion of gaseous material during an inclined encounter. 29 references.

• Research Organization: Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, MD (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5332615
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Vol. 324
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
GALAXIES
MORPHOLOGY
COSMIC DUST
COSMIC GASES
GALACTIC EVOLUTION
GALAXY NUCLEI
GRAVITATIONAL INTERACTIONS
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
PHOTOMETRY
ROTATION
SEYFERT GALAXIES
BASIC INTERACTIONS
DUSTS
FLUIDS
GASES
INTERACTIONS
MOTION
SPACE
640105* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Galaxies