NGC 4473 globular clusters

In the inner region (<4R_e_), the blue GCs rotate along the photometric major axis, but in an opposite direction to the galaxy stars and red GCs. In the outer region (>4R_e_), the red GCs rotate in an opposite direction compared to the inner region red GCs, along the photometric major axis, while the blue GCs rotate along an axis intermediate between the major and minor photometric axes. We also find a kinematically distinct population of very red GCs in the inner region with elevated rotation amplitude and velocity dispersion.

The multiple kinematic components in NGC 4473 highlight the complex formation and evolutionary history of this 2{sigma} galaxy, as well as a distinct transition between the inner and outer components.