UGC 1198: A Galaxy with an Inner Polar Disk/Ring

Abstract

We analyze new observational data obtained at the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences with the SCORPIO focal reducer for the peculiar galaxy UGC 1198. Based on these data, we have concluded that UGC 1198 is a dwarf elliptical galaxy (dE) with evidence of interaction. A kinematic study of UGC 1198 has shown that at least two systems are observed in this object. One of them is associated with the stellar system of UGC 1198 itself with weak rotation around the minor axis of the galaxy. The second system is associated with the gaseous disk/ring rotating at an angle of 72° to the equatorial plane of the galaxy. The gaseous polar disk/ring could be formed during the merger of a dwarf elliptical galaxy with a galaxy of approximately the same or lower mass containing a gas. The mean age of the stellar population at r ≥ 5″ is 2 × 10⁹ yr. The interaction as a result of which the galaxy under study was formed can be assumed to have occurred less than one billion years ago.