Description
We report observations of the velocity field of the ionized gas in the nearby ellipticals NGC 1453, NGC 2974, NGC 3962, NGC 4636, NGC 6868 and NGC 7097. This is part of an ESO Key Programme intended to derive the mass distribution of elliptical galaxies and to investigate the possible presence of dark matter. All galaxy spectra are characterized by LINER-type emission. The derived gas kinematics confirm the picture of a regular gaseous disk structure with ordered rotation. The gas velocity dispersion profiles decline rapidly from a high central value in the range of =~150 to =~250km/s.
|