2011A&A...528A.128P

NGC4486A is a low-luminosity elliptical galaxy harbouring an edge-on nuclear disk of stars and dust. It is known to host a super-massive black hole. We study its large-scale kinematics and stellar population along the major axis to investigate the link between the nuclear and global properties. We use long-slit medium-resolution optical spectra that we fit against stellar population models. The SSP-equivalent age is about 12 Gyr old throughout the body of the galaxy, and its metallicity decreases from [Fe/H]=0.18 near the centre to sub-solar values in the outskirts. The metallicity gradient is -0.24dex per decade of radius within the effective isophote. The velocity dispersion is 132±3km/s at 1.3" from the centre and decreases outwards. The rotation velocity reaches a maximum V_max>115±5km/s at a radius 1.3<r_max<2". NGC4486A appears to be a typical low-luminosity elliptical galaxy. There is no signature in the stellar population of the possible ancient accretion/merging event that produced the disk.