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. Their existence is also predicted by large-scale cosmological simulations. [1][4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 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. S2CID 54571420.
  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. S2CID 96422162.
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