UNCOVERING THE INTRINSIC SHAPES OF ELLIPTIC GALAXIES .2. APPROXIMATE KINEMATIC SHAPE INDICATORS

This is the second in a series of three papers that presents a new method for constraining the intrinsic shapes of elliptical galaxies through their apparent shapes and kinematics. Paper I developed a set of dynamical models; Paper III discusses a Monte Carlo fitting procedure for applying the models to real galaxies. This second paper presents an approximate graphical method for estimating a galaxy's intrinsic axis ratios. It uses the apparent ellipticity and a set of dimensionless combinations of the velocities measured on the major and minor axes and at the +/-45 degrees intermediate position angles. We present an atlas of ''channel maps'' of the parameter space, from which one may estimate the intrinsic shape of any galaxy with the necessary data. While not nearly as reliable as the rigorous methods of Paper III, the graphical method is presented for easier applicability and intuitive guidance.