Prolate rotator galaxy

A prolate rotator galaxy, or spindle galaxy, is an unusual class of galaxy that is cigar-shaped and rotates around its long axis.[1] A prolate rotator galaxy is an elliptical galaxy in prolate rotation,[1][2] meaning they possess a significant amount of rotation around their major axis. To create a prolate rotator galaxy, two large spiral galaxies must collide at right angles.[3] One forms the central bar, the other the disk. The bar then dominates the system.

As of 2017, 20 such galaxies were known, while another group of researchers found 59 candidates.[1][4]

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, e.g. NGC 5866.

References
  1. Pössel, Markus (12 October 2017). "Astronomers discover unusual spindle-like galaxies". Max Planck Institute for Astronomy. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  2. Osborne, Hannah (13 October 2017). "Eight Weird, Spindle-Like Galaxies Discovered by Astronomers". Newsweek. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  3. Tsatsi, A.; et al. (October 2017). "CALIFA reveals prolate rotation in massive early-type galaxies: A polar galaxy merger origin?". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 606. A62. arXiv:1707.05130. Bibcode:2017A&A...606A..62T. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201630218.
  4. Ebrová, Ivana & Łokas, Ewa L. (December 2017). "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.
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