Radio-optical Orientation of Elliptical Galaxies

Abstract

Present knowledge of the distribution of the angle between major optical and radio axes of early-type galaxies is reviewed. While brightest galaxies in Abell clusters show a bimodal distribution of this angle, with both parallel and vertical alignment, ellipticals in general only show a weak preference for vertical alignment. Current plans are outlined to homogenize and largely increase these samples using literature data together with digitized optical Sky Surveys and the ongoing new radio surveys. The results will shed light on both the dynamics of nearby ellipticals, as well as on a possible link between nearby cD galaxies and powerful high-redshift radio galaxies.