Abstract
Centaurus A (NGC 5128) is a nearby Giant Elliptical (3.5Mpc, 1012 Solar Masses). It has a prominent dust-lane which has an axis of rotation orientated differently from that of the underlying galaxy. Close to it are two galaxies: NGC 5237 — a dwarf elliptical, and Fourcade-Figueroa — a low surface brightness irregular. We are investigating whether these three objects are the resulting components of a grazing interaction between a Giant Elliptical and a less massive spiral galaxy. We have conducted n-body simulations, modelling all components of the two original interacting galaxies. Preliminary results show that Cen A, its dust-lane, and NGC 5237 are consistent with this simulation model. Centaurus A exhibits many other features which are also indicative of a past interaction.
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© 1996 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
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Vine, S.G., Thomson, R.C. (1996). The Dynamical Evolution of Centaurus A. In: Bender, R., Davies, R.L. (eds) New Light on Galaxy Evolution. International Astronomical Union / Union Astronomique Internationale, vol 171. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0229-9_174
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0229-9_174
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-0-7923-3976-2
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-0229-9
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