Evidence for a central dark mass in NGC 4594 (the Sombrero galaxy)

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/166904· OSTI ID:6400336

Kormendy, J

This paper discusses the results of the absorption-line spectroscopy carried out with the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope on the prototypical Sa galaxy NGC 4594 (the Sombrero galaxy). Two conclusions were derived concerning this galaxy. First, at the values of r less than 10 arcsec, there is a well-defined nuclear disk of stars which is not obviously connected to the main disk at larger radii. Second, the mass-to-light ratio, M/L(V), of the galaxy rises abruptly at r values less than 1 arcsec to values of M/L(V) greater than 50, which is at least 10 times as large as the mass-to-light ratios at r values above 2 arcsec. This implies the presence of a central dark mass of a magnitude between 10 to the 8.5th and 10 to the 9.5th solar masses. 54 references.

• Research Organization: Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, Victoria (Canada)
• OSTI ID: 6400336
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 335; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABSORPTION SPECTRA
BLACK HOLES
CONFIGURATION
GALAXIES
GALAXY NUCLEI
MASS
MORPHOLOGY
NONLUMINOUS MATTER
RADIAL VELOCITY
SPECTRA
SPIRAL CONFIGURATION
STARS
VELOCITY