# Spatial environment of polar-ring galaxies from the SDSS

## TL;DR

This study investigates the spatial environments of polar-ring galaxies using SDSS data, revealing they typically reside in less dense regions compared to other galaxies, likely due to environmental effects on their structures.

## Contribution

It provides a comparative analysis of the environments of polar-ring galaxies versus normal galaxies using two different methods, highlighting the impact of environment on polar structure survival.

## Key findings

- Polar-ring galaxies are in less dense environments than other galaxies.
- Denser environments may lead to destruction of polar structures.
- Environmental factors influence the formation and stability of polar rings.

## Abstract

Based on SDSS data, we have considered the spatial environment of galaxies with extended polar rings. We used two approaches: estimating the projected distance to the nearest companion and counting the number of companions as a function of the distance to the galaxy. Both approaches have shown that the spatial environment of polar-ring galaxies on scales of hundreds of kiloparsecs is, on average, less dense than that of galaxies without polar structures. Apparently, one of the main causes of this effect is that the polar structures in a denser environment are destroyed more often during encounters and mergers with other galaxies.