``A Study of the Kinematics of the Peculiar Galaxy Arp10''
by
Charmandaris, V. and Appleton P.N.
Department of Physics & Astronomy, Iowa State University, U.S.A.

Proceedings of the 2nd Hellenic Astronomical Society Conference, p436, 1996


We present VLA H\,I and optical spectra of the peculiar galaxy Arp~10. Originally believed to be an example of a classical colliding ring galaxy with multiple rings, the new observations show a large disturbed neutral hydrogen disk extending 2.7 times the diameter of the bright optical ring. We also present evidence for optical shells or ripples in the outer optical isophotes of the galaxy reminiscent of the ripples seen in some early type systems. The H\,I disk comprises of two main parts: a very irregular outer structure, containing peculiar loops and filaments and a more regular inner disk associated with the main bright optical ring. In both cases, the H\,I structures do not exactly trace the optical morphology. This effect is most apparent in the outer parts, where the HI emission resembles the H\,I loops seen in some shell elliptical galaxies. Even the inner H\,I disk does not correspond well morphologically nor kinematically to the optical rings. These peculiarities lead us to believe that the potential in which the H\,I disk resides is significantly out of equilibrium -- a situations which would inherently produce rings of star formation. We suggest that Arp 10 is either i) the late stages of a merger between a large H\,I rich disk and an SO galaxy or ii) the final stages in the formation of a single gas-rich disk system.


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