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Title: Star formation in outer rings of S0 galaxies: IV. NGC 254: A double-ringed S0 with gas counter-rotation

Journal Article · · Astronomy and Astrophysics
ORCiD logo [1];  [2];  [3];  [3]
  1. New York University Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates). Center for Astro, Particle, and Planetary Physics; Moscow State Univ., Moscow (Russian Federation). Sternberg Astronomical Institute
  2. Moscow (Russian Federation); South African Astronomical Observatory, Cape Town (South Africa); 5 Southern African Large Telescope, Cape Town (South Africa)
  3. Moscow (Russian Federation). Sternberg Astronomical Institute
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Although S0 galaxies are usually considered “red and dead”, they often demonstrate star formation organized into ring structures. We aim to clarify the nature of this phenomenon and how it differs from star formation in spiral galaxies. We investigated the nearby, moderate-luminosity S0 galaxy NGC 254 using long-slit spectroscopy taken with the South African Large Telescope and publicly available imaging data. Applying a full spectral fitting, we analyzed gaseous and stellar kinematics as well as ionized gas excitation and metallicity and stellar population properties resolved by radius. An advanced approach of simultaneously fitting spectra and photometric data allowed us to quantify the fraction of hidden counter-rotating stars in this galaxy. We find that the ionized gas is counter-rotating with respect to the stars throughout NGC 254 disk, indicating an external origin of the gas. We argue the gas-rich galaxy merger from retrograde orbit as a main source of counter-rotating material. The star formation fed by this counter-rotating gas occurs within two rings: an outer ring at R = 55' - 70" and an inner ring at R = 18". The star formation rate is weak, 0.02 solar mass per year in total, and the gas metallicity is slightly subsolar. We estimated that the accretion of the gas occurred about 1 Gyr ago, and about 1% of all stars have formed in situ from counter-rotating gas.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP); National Science Foundation (NSF); Russian Scientific Foundation; Russian Foundation for Basic Researches
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231; AC02-05CH1123; AST-0950945; 19-12-00281; 21-72-00036; 18-02-00094a
OSTI ID:
1982302
Journal Information:
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Vol. 658; ISSN 0004-6361
Publisher:
EDP SciencesCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
astronomy & astrophysics
galaxies: structure
galaxies: evolution
galaxies: elliptical and lenticular
cD
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