THE SYMMETRY, COLOR, AND MORPHOLOGY OF GALAXIES

Authors
Citation
Cj. Conselice, THE SYMMETRY, COLOR, AND MORPHOLOGY OF GALAXIES, Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 109(741), 1997, pp. 1251-1255
Citations number
17
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Journal title
Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
ISSN journal
0004-6280 → ACNP
Volume
109
Issue
741
Year of publication
1997
Pages
1251 - 1255
Database
ISI
SICI code
0004-6280(1997)109:741<1251:TSCAMO>2.0.ZU;2-Q
Abstract
The structural symmetry of 43 face-on galaxy images in the R (650 nm) and J (450 nm) bands are measured to determine the usefulness of symme try as a morphological parameter. Each galaxy image is rotated by 180 degrees and subtracted from the original to obtain a quantitative valu e for its structural symmetry. The symmetry numbers computed for the s ample are then compared with RC3 morphological types, color, and absol ute blue magnitudes. A strong correlation between color and symmetry i s found, and the RC3 Hubble sequence is found to be one of increasing asymmetry. The use of symmetry as a morphological parameter, and the p ossible causes of the asymmetries are discussed.