A new collisional ring galaxy at z = 0.111: Auriga's Wheel

Blair C. Conn*, Anna Pasquali, Emanuela Pompei, Richard R. Lane, André Nicolas Chené, Rory Smith, Geraint F. Lewis

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report the serendipitous discovery of a collision ring galaxy, identified as 2MASX J06470249+4554022, which we have dubbed "Auriga's Wheel," found in a SUPRIME-CAM frame as part of a larger Milky Way survey. This peculiar class of galaxies is the result of a near head-on collision typically between a late-type and an early-type galaxy. Subsequent Gemini Multi-object Spectrograph North long-slit spectroscopy has confirmed both the relative proximity of the components of this interacting pair and has shown that it has a redshift of 0.111. Analysis of the spectroscopy reveals that the late-type galaxy is a LINER class active galactic nucleus (AGN) while the early-type galaxy is also potentially an AGN candidate; this is very uncommon among known collision ring galaxies. Preliminary modeling of the ring finds an expansion velocity of ∼ 200kms-1 consistent with our observations, making the collision about 50 Myr old. The ring currently has a radius of about 10kpc and a bridge of stars and gas is also visible connecting the two galaxies.

Original languageEnglish
Article number80
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume741
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Nov 2011
Externally publishedYes

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