On the three-dimensional figure of elliptical galaxies
Douglas O. Richstone · The Astrophysical Journal · 1979
The surface brightness-axial ratio relation is investigated in a homogeneous sample of 68 elliptical galaxies in five clusters. The observed correlations favor oblate models over prolate ones in the absence of a correlation between equatorial surface brightness and intrinsic axial ratio. If such a correlation exists, the test is inconclusive. An additional three tests are conducted, one of which is independent of any such correlation. That test accepts both models.