Search

We investigate the number of physical companion galaxies for a sample of relatively isolated elliptical galaxies. The NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED) has been usedto reinvestigate the incidence of satellite galaxies for a sample of 34 elliptical galaxies, firstinvestigated by Bothun & Sullivan (1977) using a visual inspection of Palomar Sky Survey prints out to a projected search radius of 75 kpc. We have repeated their original investigation usingdata cataloged data in NED. Nine of these ellipticals appear to be members of galaxy clusters:the remaining sample of 25 galaxies reveals an average of +1.0 f 0.5 apparent companions per galaxy within a projected search radius of 75 kpc, in excess of two equal-area comparisonregions displaced by 150-300 kpc. This is nearly an order of magnitude larger than the +0.12+/- 0.42 companions/galaxy found by Bothun & Sullivan for the identical sample. Making use of published radial velocities, mostly available since the completion of the Bothun-Sullivan study,identifies the physical companions and gives a somewhat lower estimate of +0.4 companions per elliptical. This is still a factor of 3x larger than the original statistical study, but giventhe incomplete and heterogeneous nature of the survey redshifts in NED, it still yields a firmlower limit on the number (and identity) of physical companions. An expansion of the searchradius out to 300 kpc, again restricted to sampling only those objects with known redshifts in NED, gives another lower limit of 4.3 physical companions per galaxy. (Excluding fiveelliptical galaxies in the Fornax cluster this average drops to 3.5 companions per elliptical.)These physical companions are individually identified and listed, and the ensemble-averagedradial density distribution of these associated galaxies is presented. For the ensemble, the radial density distribution is found to have a fall-off consistent with p c( R^-0.5 out to approximately150 kpc. For non-Fornax cluster companions the fall-off continues out to the 300-kpc limit of thesurvey. The velocity dispersion of these companions is found to be constant with projected radial distance from the central elliptical, holding at a value of approximately +/- 300-350 km/sec overall.

We have undertaken an imaging survey of 34 nearby galaxies in far-ultraviolet(FUV, [sim]1500 u and optical (UBVRI) passbands to characterize galaxy morphology as a function of wavelength. This sample, which includes a range of classical Hubble types from elliptical to irregular, with emphasis on spirals at low inclination angle, provides a valuable database for comparison with images of high-z galaxies whose FUV light is redshifted into the optical and near-infrared bands.

We present a quantitative study of the far-ultraviolet (FUV) and optical morphology in 32 nearby galaxies and estimate the morphological k-correction expected if these objects were observed unevolved at high redshift.

We describe observations of 5 nearby galaxies obtained using the Long Wavelength Spectrograph (LWS) on the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO).

We present color-magnitude diagrams and luminosity functions or stars in two halo regions of the irregular galaxy in M82, based on F555W and F814W photometry taken with the Hubble Space Telescope and Wide Field Planetary Camera 2.

In an attempt to use Cepheid variables to determine the distance to the Centaurus cluster, we have obtained images of NGC 4603 with the Hubble Space Telescope for 9 epochs (totalling 24 orbits) over 14 months in the F555W filter and 2 epochs (totalling 6 orbits) in the F814W filter.

We report the detection of Cepheid variable stars in the barred spiral galaxy NGC 1365, located in the Fornax cluster, using the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2. Twelve V (F555W) and four I (F814W) epochs of observation were obtained.

This is one of the galaxies being observed as part of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Key Project on the Extragalactic Distance Scale which aims to determine the Hubble Constant to 10% accuracy.

We present color-magnitude diagrams and luminosity functions of stars in the nearby galaxy IC 10, based on VI CCD photometry acquired with the COSMIC prime-focus camera on the Palomer 5m telescope.

We report on the identification of 255 candidate variable stars in a field located some 1.7 from the center of the late-type spiral galaxy M101 = NGC 5457, based on observations made with the Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 on board the Hubble Space Telescope.

The distance to NGC 4725 has been derived from Cepheid variables, as part of the Hubble Space Telescope Key Project on the Extragalactic Distance Scale.

Using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) thirty-seven long-period Cepheid variables have been discoverd in the Fornax Cluster spiral galaxy NGC 1365.

The determination of an accurate value of the Hubble constant requires the measurement of accurate galaxy distances and velocities. Both the Virgo and Fornax clusters of galaxies are close enough to be studied in considerable detail.

We have measured accurate celestial coordinates for 4741 extragalactic objects, primarily drawn from a list of MCG galaxies with no recently published accurate positions.

We report the Discovery of Cepheid variable stars in the galaxy NGC 4414, as part of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Key Project on the Extragalactic Distance Scale. Observations were obtained with the HST Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2) for 13 epochs at V (F555W) and 4 at I (F814W).

We report the detection of Cepheids and a new distance to the spiral galaxy NGC 2541, based on data obtained with the Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 on board the Hubble Space Telescope (HST).

We present a V--I color-magnitude diagram for a region 1'--2' the center of M32 based on Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 images. The broad color-luminosity distribution of red giants shows that the stellar population comprises stars with a wide range in metallicity.

New CCD photometry of the faint, compact star cluster IC 1257 (L = 17? = +/- 15?obtained with the Palomar 5m telescope, reveals that it is a highly reddened globular cluster well beyond the Galactic center.

We report on the discovery of Cepheids in the field spiral galaxy NGC3621, based on observations made with the Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 on board the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). NGC 3621 is one of 18 galaxies observed as part of the HST Key Project on the Extragalctic Distance Scale, which aims to measure the Hubble Constant to 10 percent accuracy.

We report on the discovery and properties of Cepheid variable stars in the barred spiral galaxy NGC 3351 which is a member of the LeoI group of galaxies.

The distance to NGC 7331 has been derived from Cepheid variables observed with HST/WFPC2, as part of the Extragalactic Distance Scale Key Project. Multi-epoch exposures in F555W(~V) and F814W (~1), with photometry derived independently from DoPHOT and DAOPHOT/ALLFRAME programs, which were used to detect a total of 14 reliable Cepheids, with periods between 11 and 42 days.

We present the V and I light curves of a nova discovered in the disk of the spiral galaxy M100, located in the Virgo cluster.

The primary purpose of the 'reference code' is to provide a unique and traceable representation of a bibliographic reference within the structure of each database. The code is used frequently in the interfaces as a succinct abbreviation of a full bibliographic reference. Since its inception, it has become a standard code not only for NED and SIMBAD, but also for other bibliographic services.

Accurate distances to galaxies are critical to determining the present expansion rate of the Universe or Hubble Constant (H(sub 0)). An important step in resolving the current uncertainty in H(sub 0) is the measurement of the distance to the Virgo cluster of galaxies. New observations using the Hubble Space Telescope yield a distance of 17.1 +/- 1.8 Mpc to the Virgo cluster galaxy M100. This distance leads to a value of H(sub 0) = 17 km/sec/Mpc. A comparable value of H(sub 0) is also derived from the Coma cluster using independent estimates of its distance ratio relative to the Virgo cluster.

New positions (good to +/- 15 arcsec), revised sizes, and sample cross-identifications are presented for dwarf galaxies discovered and published by Mailyan (1973, Astrofizika, 9, 33). Of the 104 originally cataloged galaxies we were able to recover only 100, despite an extensive search of the red and blue Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (POSS) prints. Over half of the recovered objects were found to correspond to previously cataloged galaxies; few if any of these are dwarf spheriodal galaxies, but rather mostly dwarf irregulars of low surface brightness.

Based on both empirical data for nearby galaxies, and on computer simulations, we show that measuring the position of the tip of the first-ascent red-giant branch (TRGB) provides a means of obtaining the distances to nearby galaxies with a precision and accuracy comparable to using Cepheids and/or RR Lyrae variables.

As part of both the Early Release Observations fromthe Hubble Space Telescope and the Key PRoject on the Extragalctic Distance Scale, we have obtained multi-wavelength BVR WFPC2 images for the face-on Virgo cluster spiral galaxy M11 = NGC 4321.

Homberg (1969) presented the first systematic study of the statistical excess of apparent companions around nearby galaxies after examining the environs of 115 northern hemisphere spiral galaxies.

We present the first results of an on-going study of the optical properties of the extragalactic background light as measured by ground-based telescopes equipped with panoramic CCD detectors.

This paper presents initial observations, including the discovery of 30 Cepheids in the nearby galaxy M81, made using the Wide Field Camera (WFC).