Rotation in 13 elliptical galaxies

view Abstract Citations (420) References (22) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Rotation (?) in 13 elliptical galaxies. Illingworth, G. Abstract Rotation data are presented for 13 elliptical galaxies, and compared with the oblate models of Gott (1975), Larson (1975), and Wilson (1975). It is found that, on average, most elliptical galaxies have one-third the peak rotational velocity required by these models, with an estimated upper limit of two-thirds the expected rotation. This result is independent of the distance scale. Oblate models in which the flattening is a result of rotation appear to be precluded by these data. Plausible alternatives appear to be that ellipticals are (1) triaxial ellipsoids (or oblate spheroids) in which the flattening is due to remnant anisotropy in the velocity distribution, as suggested by Binney (1978), or (2) rotating prolate ellipsoids, as suggested by Miller (1978). Curiously, one giant elliptical rotates as expected. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: December 1977 DOI: 10.1086/182572 Bibcode: 1977ApJ...218L..43I Keywords: Elliptical Galaxies; Galactic Rotation; Galactic Structure; Velocity Distribution; Anisotropy; Astronomical Models; Oblate Spheroids; Prolate Spheroids; Remanence; Signal To Noise Ratios; Astrophysics full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (14) NED (12)