1999/09/27 by Stacy McGaugh
Physics and Astronomy · #astro-ph
published as 2000, in Galaxy Dynamics: from the Early Universe to the Present, eds. Combes, F., Mamon, G.A., & Charmandaris, V. (San Francisco: Astronomical Society of the Pacific), ASP 197, 153-160 · 8 pages, ASP LaTeX. Invited review for Galaxy Dynamics: from the Early Universe to the Present, eds. Combes, Mamon, & Charmandaris
arxiv created 1999/09/27 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01
The rotation curves of disk galaxies exhibit a number of striking regularities. The amplitude of the rotation is correlated with luminosity (Tully-Fisher), the shape of the rotation curve is well predicted by the luminous mass distribution, and the magnitude of the mass discrepancy increases systematically with decreasing centripetal acceleration. These properties indicate a tight connection between light and mass, and impose strong constraints on theories of galaxy formation.