The Near-Infrared Surface Brightness Distribution of NGC 4696

We present H-band observations of the elliptical galaxy NGC 4696, the brightest member of the Centaurus cluster of galaxies. We have measured its light profile, using a two-dimensional fitting algorithm, out to a radius of 180 arcsec (37 h70-1 kpc). The profile is well described by a de Vaucouleurs law, with an effective radius of 35.3 1.0 h70-1 kpc. There is no need for the extra free parameter allowed by a Srsic law. Allowing for a variation of 0.3? in the sky level, the profile obtained is compatible with data from the Two-Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS). The profile shows no sign of either a truncation or an extended halo.