Prolate rotator galaxy

A Prolate rotator galaxy is an unusual class of galaxy that is cigar shaped and rotates around its long axis.[1] They are also called Spindle galaxies. A prolate rotator galaxy is an elliptical galaxy in prolate rotation.[2][3] That is they possess a significant amount of rotation around the major axis. To make a prolate rotator galaxy, two large spiral disk galaxies need to collide at right angles.[4] One forms the central bar , the other the disk. The bar then dominates the system. At 2017 20 such galaxies were known, while another group of researcher found 59 likely objects.[1][5]

They are not to be confused with lenticular galaxies which are spiral galaxies seen edge on and have sometimes been given the name 'spindle' because of their long thin appearance when viewed from this direction , eg NGC 5866.

References

  1. 1 2 "Astronomers discover unusual spindle-like galaxies". Phys.org. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
  2. ↑ "Astronomers discover unusual spindle-like galaxies". www.mpia.de. Max Planck Institute for Astronomy. October 12, 2017. Retrieved 2018-01-09.
  3. ↑ "Eight weird, spindle-like galaxies have been discovered by astronomers". Newsweek. 2017-10-13. Retrieved 2018-01-09.
  4. ↑ A. Tsatsi; et al. (2017). "CALIFA reveals prolate rotation in massive early-type galaxies: A polar galaxy merger origin?". Astronomy & Astrophysics. arXiv:1707.05130. Bibcode:2017A&A...606A..62T. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201630218.
  5. ↑ Ebrova, Ivana; Lokas, Ewa L. (2017-11-28). "Galaxies with prolate rotation in Illustris". The Astrophysical Journal. 850 (2): 144. arXiv:1708.03311. Bibcode:2017ApJ...850..144E. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/aa96ff. ISSN 1538-4357.
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