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Character of ‘prolate’ galaxies

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Abstract

It is still not known whether elliptical galaxies are oblate, prolate or triaxial. The prototype ‘prolate’ galaxy NGC2685 has a rapid observed stellar rotation rate around the projected minor axis. We show here that a steady figure, exactly prolate model can have no such rotation, and that a nearly prolate model fails by a factor of 7. We suggest that the galaxy is oblate and that the gas disk is the wreck of a dwarf companion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Astronomy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA

    Douglas O. Richstone & Michael D. Potter

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  1. Douglas O. Richstone
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  2. Michael D. Potter
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Richstone, D., Potter, M. Character of ‘prolate’ galaxies. Nature 298, 728–729 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/298728a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/298728a0

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