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Cited by 835Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, PhenomenaStellar, planetary, and galactic studiesAstrophysical Phenomena and Observations

SPARC: MASS MODELS FOR 175 DISK GALAXIES WITH SPITZER PHOTOMETRY AND ACCURATE ROTATION CURVES

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Lelli, Federico, McGaugh, Stacy S., Schombert, James M.·2016·The Astronomical Journal
DOI 10.3847/0004-6256/152/6/157
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Abstract

We introduce SPARC ( Spitzer Photometry and Accurate Rotation Curves): a sample of 175 nearby galaxies with new surface photometry at 3.6 μ m and high-quality rotation curves from previous H i /H α studies. SPARC spans a broad range of morphologies (S0 to Irr), luminosities (∼5 dex), and surface brightnesses (∼4 dex). We derive [3.6] surface photometry and study structural relations of stellar and gas disks. We find that both the stellar mass–H i mass relation and the stellar radius–H i radius relation have significant intrinsic scatter, while the H i mass–radius relation is extremely tight. We build detailed mass models and quantify the ratio of baryonic to observed velocity ( V bar / V obs ) for different characteristic radii and values of the stellar mass-to-light ratio (ϒ ⋆ ) at [3.6]. Assuming ϒ ⋆ ≃ 0.5 M ⊙ / L ⊙ (as suggested by stellar population models), we find that (i) the gas fraction linearly correlates with total luminosity; (ii) the transition from star-dominated to gas-dominated galaxies roughly corresponds to the transition from spiral galaxies to dwarf irregulars, in line with density wave theory; and (iii) V bar / V obs varies with luminosity and surface brightness: high-mass, high-surface-brightness galaxies are nearly maximal, while low-mass, low-surface-brightness galaxies are submaximal. These basic properties are lost for low values of ϒ ⋆ ≃ 0.2 M ⊙ / L ⊙ as suggested by the DiskMass survey. The mean maximum-disk limit in bright galaxies is ϒ ⋆ ≃ 0.7 M ⊙ / L ⊙ at [3.6]. The SPARC data are publicly available and represent an ideal test bed for models of galaxy formation.

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  • The universal rotation curve of spirals of MW luminosity is flat or gently declining out to the last measured point.

    “the universal rotation curve of spirals of MW luminosity is flat or gently declining out to the last measured point (Persic et al., 1996; Salucci, 2019; Lelli et al., 2016; Mistele et al., 2024; Bariego-Quintana & Llanes-Estrada, 2026).”

    From The rotation curve of the Milky Way: State of the art, the Keplerian decline debate, and implications for dark matter (2026) · cites this paper as Lelli et al., 2016

    Section 5.3.1 describes a flat outer rotation curve in one early-type spiral and says this is typical of early-type spirals. The Figure 1 caption also identifies flat portions of SPARC rotation curves. Neither passage establishes a universal curve specifically for Milky-Way-luminosity spirals or says it remains flat or gently declining to the last measured point. (LLM, conf=0.80)

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1 of the 107 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 8

  1. Begeman, K. G. 1987, PhD thesis, Univ. Groningen Figure 8. Same as Figure 7 (top), but adopting ϒ å =0.
  2. Broeils, A. H. 1992, PhD thesis, Univ. Groningen
  3. de Vaucouleurs, G., de Vaucouleurs, A., Corwin, H. G., Jr., et al. 1991, Third Reference Catalogue of Bright Galaxies (New York, NY: Springer)
  4. Katz, H., Lelli, F., McGaugh, S. S., et al. 2016, arXiv:1605.05971 · arXiv
  5. Lelli, F. 2013, PhD thesis, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute
  6. Noordermeer, E. 2006, PhD thesis, Groningen: Rijksuniversiteit
  7. Swaters, R. A. 1999, PhD thesis, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
  8. Verheijen, M. A. W. 1997, PhD thesis, Univ. Groningen

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Authors
Lelli, F., McGaugh, S. S., & Schombert, J. M.
Affiliations
  • Case Western Reserve University (US)
  • University of Oregon (US)
Corresponding author
Lelli, Federico
ORCID
Venue
The Astronomical Journal
Publisher
American Astronomical Society
Published
2016-11-11
Volume
152
Issue
6
Pages
157
ISSN
  • 0004-6256 (ISSN-L)
  • 1538-3881
DOI
10.3847/0004-6256/152/6/157
OpenAlex
W2464805820
Cited by
835
References
107
Citations by year
2026: 139 · 2025: 93 · 2024: 86 · 2023: 75 · 2022: 78 · 2021: 89 · 2020: 92 · 2019: 72 · 2018: 67 · 2017: 37 · 2016: 7
FWCI
29.17
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • The Astronomical Journal (publishedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
  • Scholarly Commons @ Case Western Reserve University (submittedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations
Keywords
SPARC, disk galaxies, rotation curves, mass models, surface photometry, stellar mass-to-light ratio, void fraction, baryonic mass, density wave theory, galaxy formation, spiral galaxies, dwarf irregular galaxies

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