Collisional Ring Galaxies in Small Groups
The probability of plunging orbits is enhanced in groups of galaxies and indeed, observations show that ring galaxies, which are believed to form when a galaxy passes through the center of a larger rotating disk, are often found in small groups. Numerical simulations combined with a knowledge of the large-scale HI distribution provide strong constraints on the dynamical history of these systems and on the identity of the intruder. Here we present a numerical model of the Cartwheel which supports the suggestion that the most distant companion is the intruder. We also present high-resolution HI observations of the more irregular system Arp 119 that reveal a possible connection to the most distant companion.