Open AccessStructure and star formation in disc galaxies – I. Sample selection and near‐infrared imaging
Author(s) -
Knapen J. H.,
De Jong R. S.,
Stedman S.,
Bramich D. M.
Publication year - 2003
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.1365-8711.2003.06846.x
Subject(s) - physics , bulge , astrophysics , galaxy , spiral galaxy , disc galaxy , luminous infrared galaxy , star formation , astronomy , spiral (railway) , mathematical analysis , mathematics
We present near‐infrared imaging of a sample of 57 relatively large, northern spiral galaxies with low inclination. After describing the selection criteria and some of the basic properties of the sample, we give a detailed description of the data collection and reduction procedures. The K s λ= 2.2‐μm images cover most of the disc for all galaxies, with a field of view of at least 4.2 arcmin. The spatial resolution is better than 1 arcsec for most images. We fit bulge and exponential disc components to radial profiles of the light distribution. We then derive the basic parameters of these components, and the bulge/disc ratio, and explore correlations of these parameters with several galaxy parameters.