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Paper: Elliptical galaxies
Volume: 10, Evolution of the Universe of Galaxies: Edwin Hubble Centennial Symposium
Page: 82
Authors: Illingworth, Garth D.; Franx, Marijn
Abstract: Elliptical galaxies, and the bulges of disk galaxies, have a unique role to play in understanding how galaxies form. Their structural, kinematic and population characteristics reflect the conditions and the epoch of their formation. The results from studies in these areas, together with data gleaned from observations of galaxies at high redshift, will provide the basis for elucidating the mechanisms and the timescales at which they formed. Recent observations of the kinematics of elliptical galaxies have shown a variety of outstanding features: a significant fraction of galaxies have kinematically-distinct cores, while some even appear to rotate around their long axes. The kinematic diversity of ellipticals contrasts with a striking uniformity in their photometric properties. This regularity extends to the colors and color gradients in ellipticals.
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