UGC 5119: A galaxy with a stellar polar ring?

Abstract

We present our photometric BV Rc observations of UGC 5119, a candidate polar-ring galaxy. We have determined its absolute magnitude, M 0,B = -20.m3, and total color indices, (B-V) t0 = +0.m73 ± 0.m10 and (V-Rc)t0 = +0.m54 ± 0. m10. A Fourier analysis of the shape of its isophotes shows that UGC 5119 is most likely an elliptical galaxy with a disk component in the central part and a "boxy" feature on the periphery. At distances larger than 8″, the galaxy exhibits a turn of its major axis and a change in the phase of the fourth harmonic. Assuming the position angle of the major axis to be constant, a stellar ringlike structure is distinguished in the galaxy. The age of the ring stars is the same as that of the stars in the host galaxy. The distinguished ringlike structure cannot be attributed to typical polar rings rich in gas and in young stars. © 2004 MAIK "Nauka/ Interperiodica".