Open AccessGalaxy candidates in the Zone of Avoidance
Author(s) -
Lahav Ofer,
Brosch Noah,
Goldberg Evgeny,
Hau George K. T.,
KraanKorteweg Renée C.,
Loan Andy J.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.1998.01686.x
Subject(s) - physics , galaxy , astrophysics , galactic plane , astronomy , latitude , observatory , milky way , longitude , telescope
Motivated by recent discoveries of nearby galaxies in the Zone of Avoidance (ZOA), we conducted a pilot study of galaxy candidates at low galactic latitude, near galactic longitude l ∼ 135°, where the Supergalactic plane is crossed by the Galactic plane. We observed with the 1‐m Wise Observatory in the l band 17 of the ‘promising’ candidates identified by visual examination of Palomar red plates by Hau et al. A few candidates were also observed in R or B bands, or had spectroscopic observations performed at the Isaac Newton Telescope and at the Wise Observatory. Our study suggests that there are probably 10 galaxies in this sample. We also identify a probable planetary nebula. The final confirmation of the nature of these sources must await the availability of full spectroscopic information. The success rate of ∼ 50 per cent in identifying galaxies at galactic latitude | b | < 5° indicates that the ZOA is a promising region to discover new galaxies.