Dynamics of early type galaxies. I. The rotation curve of the elliptical galaxy NGC 4697

Journal Article · Mon Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1975 · Astrophys. J., v. 200, no. 2, pp. 439-445

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/153808· OSTI ID:4123201

Bertola, F; Capaccioli, M

The rotation curve, up to 0/sup prime/.6 from the center, has been derived from Ca ii H and K lines for the elliptical galaxy NGC 4697. A maximum seems to be reached at 15'' with 65 km s$sup -1$. The same galaxy has been investigated by means of photographic photometry in the B system. The luminosity profile follows the r$sup 1$$/$$sup 4$ law, and the mean ellipticity is 0.4. The total apparent magnitude is B=10.30 mag, and the corresponding absolute magnitude reaches M/subB/=20.5 magn assuming a distance of 14.8 Mpc. The spatial velocity curve and the light density profile are derived. Mass and angular momentum have been computed on the hypothesis that the mass-to-light ratio is constant through the galaxy, leaving it as a free parameter. Under several assumptions it is found that the angular momentum of the elliptical NGC 4697 is lower than that of a spiral of comparable mass by a factor 5 to a factor 30, when the mass-to-light ratio varies from 5 to 50. (AIP)

• Research Organization: Asiago Astrophysical Observatory, University of Padua
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-33-010179
• OSTI ID: 4123201
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J., v. 200, no. 2, pp. 439-445, Journal Name: Astrophys. J., v. 200, no. 2, pp. 439-445; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*GALAXIES-- ROTATION
640105* --Physics Research--Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
CALCIUM IONS
LUMINOSITY
MASS
MECHANICS
N56500* --Physics (Astrophysics & Cosmology)--Galaxies
PHOTOMETRY
VELOCITY