NGC 5266 - an elliptical galaxy with a dust ring

Results of an inquiry into the nature of the southern galaxy NGC 5266 are presented. New surface photometry indicates that it is an E4 class elliptical with a narrow and slightly warped dust ring wrapping its stellar body in the plane containing its short axis. The extensive spectroscopic observations reveal a very fast cylindrical rotation of the stellar component (Vmax = 212±7 km s-1) around the short axis and smaller rotation (Vmax = 43±16 km s-1) around the long axis. The gas associated with dust rotates around the major axis of the galaxy with a velocity of 260±10 km s-1. It is shown that the true shape of the stellar component in this galaxy is probably triaxial (nearly oblate). Results from dynamical modeling of the dissipative evolution of gas disks embedded in triaxial potentials are also reported.