Free access article

A&A 430, 67-81 (2005)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:200400087

The orientation parameters and rotation curves of 15 spiral galaxies

A. M. Fridman^{1, 2}, V. L. Afanasiev³, S. N. Dodonov³, O. V. Khoruzhii^{1, 4}, A. V. Moiseev^{3, 5}, O. K. Sil'chenko^{2, 6} and A. V. Zasov<sup>2

1</sup>  Institute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Science, 48, Pyatnitskaya St., Moscow 109017, Russia
²  Sternberg Astronomical Institute, Moscow State University, University prospect 13, Moscow 119992, Russia
³  Special Astrophysical Observatory, Nizhnij Arkhyz, Karachaevo-Cherkesia 357147, Russia
⁴  Troitsk Institute for Innovation and Thermonuclear Researches, Troitsk, Moscow reg. 142092, Russia
⁵  Guest investigator of the UK Astronomy Data Centre
⁶  Isaac Newton Institute of Chile, Moscow Branch, Russia

(Received 13 December 2002 / Accepted 1 September 2004 )

Abstract
We analyzed ionized gas motion and disk orientation parameters for 15 spiral galaxies. Their velocity fields were measured with the H  emission line by using the Fabry-Perot interferometer at the 6 m telescope of SAO RAS. Special attention is paid to the problem of estimating the position angle of the major axis and the inclination ( i) of a disk, which strongly affect the derived circular rotation velocity. We discuss and compare different methods of obtaining these parameters from kinematic and photometric observations, taking into account the presence of regular velocity (brightness) perturbations caused by spiral density waves. It is shown that the commonly used method of tilted rings may lead to systematic errors in the estimation of orientation parameters (and hence of circular velocity) being applied to galaxies with an ordered spiral structure. Instead we recommend using an assumption of constancy of  i and PA ₀ along a radius, to estimate these parameters. For each galaxy of our sample we present monochromatic H - and continuum maps, velocity fields of ionized gas, and the mean rotation curves in the frame of a model of pure circular gas motion. Significant deviations from circular motion with amplitudes of several tens of (or higher) are found in almost all galaxies. The character and possible nature of the non-circular motion are briefly discussed.

Key words: galaxies: kinematics and dynamics -- galaxies: spiral

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© ESO 2005

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