H I distribution and kinematics in four low-luminosity elliptical galaxies

Journal Article · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/165038· OSTI ID:6267652

Lake, G; Schommer, R A; Van gorkom, J H

The neutral hydrogen distribution in four low-luminosity elliptical galaxies was imaged using the VLA, and B and V CCD images were obtained to determine their luminosity profiles. The brighter two of these galaxies, NGC 5666 and NGC 3265, show gapped disks, a feature typical of the H I distribution in the few bright early-type galaxies mapped to date. The gas in NGC 5666 extends to nearly 20 times the half-light radius, making it an ideal probe for the presence of dark matter. The fainter two galaxies, UGC 7354 and A1230 + 09, have centrally concentrated gas distributions, but the H I again extends to twice the Holmberg radius. The velocity distributions in the galaxies show more or less regular rotation, NGC 5666 being remarkably regular for an elliptical galaxy. In all cases, the large radial extent of the gas is compelling evidence against its origin being stellar mass loss from the luminous stellar figure. 24 references.

• Research Organization: ATandT Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ; Washington Univ., Seattle; Rutgers Univ., Piscataway, NJ; National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Green Bank, WV; Princeton Univ. Observatory, NJ
• OSTI ID: 6267652
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 314; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CONFIGURATION
COSMIC GASES
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
DISTRIBUTION
ELLIPTICAL CONFIGURATION
FLUIDS
GALAXIES
GASES
H1 REGIONS
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
MASS TRANSFER
MORPHOLOGY
MOTION
PHOTOMETRY
ROTATION
SPACE
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
STARS