Atlas and catalog of collisional ring galaxies

Abstract

We present a catalog and imaging atlas of classical (collisional) RING galaxies distilled from the Arp-Madore Atlas of Southern Peculiar Galaxies and Associations and supplemented with other known RING galaxies from the published literature. The catalog lists the original host object, compiles available redshifts, and presents newly determined positions for the central (target) galaxy and its nearest companion(s). 127 collisional RING systems are illustrated and their components identified. AU of the RINGS have plausible colliders identified; many are radial-velocity confirmed companions. Finally, we make note of the existence of a rare subclass of RING galaxies exemplified by AM 2136-492, double/concentric RING galaxies. These objects are predicted by numerical simulations, but they appear to be quite rare and/or short lived in nature. © 2009. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.