Abstract
Galaxies are three-dimensional objects projected onto the sky at random angles of inclination. Deduction of their true structure from their appearance requires an understanding of the variation of their apparent diameter, luminosity and surface brightness with viewing angle. But these variations in turn depend on galactic structure. It has taken astronomers several decades to realize that only with a direct knowledge of galactic distances can these two effects be disentangled.
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Burstein, D., Haynes, M. & Faber, S. Dependence of galaxy properties on viewing angle. Nature 353, 515–521 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/353515a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/353515a0
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