The Formation of Polar Disk Galaxies

• Published in: The Astrophysical journal Vol. 689; no. 2; pp. 678 - 686
• Main Authors: Brook, Chris B, Governato, Fabio, Quinn, Thomas, Wadsley, James, Brooks, Alyson M, Willman, Beth, Stilp, Adrienne, Jonsson, Patrik
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 20.12.2008; IOP
• Subjects: Astronomy; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Galaxy evolution; galaxies: formation; Galaxy formation; galaxies: evolution; Disk galaxies; Cosmology; cosmology: theory

Polar ring galaxies, such as NGC 4650A, are a class of galaxies that have two kinematically distinct components that are inclined by almost 90 degree to each other. These striking galaxies challenge our understanding of how galaxies form; the origin of their distinct components has remained uncertai...