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 Stellar populations in a complete sample of local radio galaxiesWe investigate the nature of the continuum emission and stellarpopulations in the inner 1-3 kpc of a complete sample of 24 southernradio galaxies, and we compare the results with a control sample of 18non-active early-type galaxies. 12 of the radio galaxies are classifiedas Fanaroff-Riley type I (FR I), eight as FR II and four as intermediateor undefined type (FR x). Optical long-slit spectra are used to performspectral synthesis as a function of distance from the nucleus at anaverage sampling of 0.5-1.0 kpc and to quantify the relativecontributions of a blue featureless continuum and stellar populationcomponents of different ages. Our main finding is a systematicdifference between the stellar populations of the radio and controlsample galaxies: the former have a larger contribution from anintermediate-age (1 Gyr) component, suggesting a connection between thepresent radio activity and a starburst which occurred ~1 Gyr ago. Inaddition, we find a correlation between the contribution of the 1-Gyrcomponent and the radio power, suggesting that more massive starburstshave led to more powerful radio emission. A similar relation is foundbetween the radio power and the mean age of the stellar population, inthe sense that stronger nuclear activity is found in younger galaxies.We also find that the stellar populations of FR I galaxies are, onaverage, older and more homogeneous than those of FR IIs. Significantpopulation gradients were found in only four radio galaxies, which arealso those with more than 10 per cent of their total flux at 4020Åcontributed by age components younger than 100 Myr and/or afeatureless continuum (indistinguishable from a 3-Myr-old stellarpopulation). Photometric properties and origin of bulges in SB0 galaxiesWe have derived the photometric parameters for the structural componentsof a sample of fourteen SB0 galaxies by applying a parametricphotometric decomposition to their observed I-band surface brightnessdistribution. We find that SB0 bulges are similar to bulges of theearly-type unbarred spirals, i.e. they have nearly exponential surfacebrightness profiles (< n>=1.48±0.16) and their effectiveradii are strongly coupled to the scale lengths of their surroundingdiscs (< r_e/h>=0.20±0.01). The photometric analysis alonedoes not allow us to differentiate SB0 bulges from unbarred S0 ones.However, three sample bulges have disc properties typical ofpseudobulges. The bulges of NGC 1308 and NGC 4340 rotate faster thanbulges of unbarred galaxies and models of isotropic oblate spheroidswith equal ellipticity. The bulge of IC 874 has a velocity dispersionlower than expected from the Faber-Jackson correlation and thefundamental plane of the elliptical galaxies and S0 bulges. Theremaining sample bulges are classical bulges, and are kinematicallysimilar to lower-luminosity ellipticals. In particular, they follow theFaber-Jackson correlation, lie on the fundamental plane and those forwhich stellar kinematics are available rotate as fast as the bulges ofunbarred galaxies. Ages and metallicities of Hickson compact group galaxies Hickson compact groups (HCGs) constitute an interesting extreme in therange of environments in which galaxies are located, as the spacedensity of galaxies in these small groups are otherwise only found inthe centres of much larger clusters. The work presented here uses Lickindices to make a comparison of ages and chemical compositions ofgalaxies in HCGs with those in other environments (clusters, loosegroups and the field). The metallicity and relative abundance ofα-elements' show strong correlations with galaxy age and centralvelocity dispersion, with similar trends found in all environments.However, we show that the previously reported correlation betweenα-element abundance ratios and velocity dispersion disappears whena full account is taken of the abundance ratio pattern in thecalibration stars. This correlation is thus found to be an artefact ofincomplete calibration to the Lick system.Variations are seen in the ranges and average values of age, metallicityand α-element abundance ratios for galaxies in differentenvironments. Age distributions support the hierarchical formationprediction that field galaxies are on average younger than their clustercounterparts. However, the ages of HCG galaxies are shown to be moresimilar to those of cluster galaxies than those in the field, contraryto the expectations of current hierarchical models. A trend for lowervelocity dispersion galaxies to be younger was also seen. This is againinconsistent with hierarchical collapse models, but is qualitativelyconsistent with the latest N-body smoothed particle hydrodynamics modelsbased on monolithic collapse in which star formation continues for manyGyr in low-mass haloes. Circumnuclear Structure and Black Hole Fueling: Hubble Space Telescope NICMOS Imaging of 250 Active and Normal GalaxiesWhy are the nuclei of some galaxies more active than others? If mostgalaxies harbor a central massive black hole, the main difference isprobably in how well it is fueled by its surroundings. We investigatethe hypothesis that such a difference can be seen in the detailedcircumnuclear morphologies of galaxies using several quantitativelydefined features, including bars, isophotal twists, boxy and diskyisophotes, and strong nonaxisymmetric features in unsharp-masked images.These diagnostics are applied to 250 high-resolution images of galaxycenters obtained in the near-infrared with NICMOS on the Hubble SpaceTelescope. To guard against the influence of possible biases andselection effects, we have carefully matched samples of Seyfert 1,Seyfert 2, LINER, starburst, and normal galaxies in their basicproperties, taking particular care to ensure that each was observed witha similar average scale (10-15 pc pixel-1). Severalmorphological differences among our five different spectroscopicclassifications emerge from the analysis. The H II/starburst galaxiesshow the strongest deviations from smooth elliptical isophotes, whilethe normal galaxies and LINERs have the least disturbed morphology. TheSeyfert 2s have significantly more twisted isophotes than any othercategory, and the early-type Seyfert 2s are significantly more disturbedthan the early-type Seyfert 1s. The morphological differences betweenSeyfert 1s and Seyfert 2s suggest that more is at work than simply theviewing angle of the central engine. They may correspond to differentevolutionary stages. Double-barred galaxies. I. A catalog of barred galaxies with stellar secondary bars and inner disksI present a catalog of 67 barred galaxies which contain distinct,elliptical stellar structures inside their bars. Fifty of these aredouble-barred galaxies: a small-scale, inner or secondary bar isembedded within a large-scale, outer or primary bar. I providehomogenized measurements of the sizes, ellipticities, and orientationsof both inner and outer bars, along with global parameters for thegalaxies. The other 17 are classified as inner-disk galaxies, where alarge-scale bar harbors an inner elliptical structure which is alignedwith the galaxy's outer disk. Four of the double-barred galaxies alsopossess inner disks, located in between the inner and outer bars. Whilethe inner-disk classification is ad-hoc - and undoubtedly includes someinner bars with chance alignments (five such probable cases areidentified) - there is good evidence that inner disks form astatistically distinct population, and that at least some are indeeddisks rather than bars. In addition, I list 36 galaxies which may bedouble-barred, but for which current observations are ambiguous orincomplete, and another 23 galaxies which have been previously suggestedas potentially being double-barred, but which are probably not. Falsedouble-bar identifications are usually due to features such as nuclearrings and spirals being misclassified as bars; I provide someillustrated examples of how this can happen.A detailed statistical analysis of the general population of double-barand inner-disk galaxies, as represented by this catalog, will bepresented in a companion paper.Tables \ref{tab:measured} and \ref{tab:deproj} are only available inelectronic form at http://www.edpsciences.org Near-infrared imaging of ellipticals: surface brightness profiles and photometryWe present near-infrared K-band imaging of a large sample of candidatemerger remnant galaxies and Hickson Compact Group ellipticals. We derivelight profile indices, effective radii and surface brightnesses, as wellas total K-band magnitudes. We find that the light distributions of themerger remnant candidates are consistent with those of normal'ellipticals, and scatter around a mean profile index of (1/n) = 0.20.Many of our sample galaxies have surface brightness profiles that arenot well described by a de Vaucouleurs law (1/n= 0.25), and we discussthe implications of this on the derived total magnitudes. Comparing thetotal K magnitudes calculated by extrapolating a de Vaucouleurs profileand those derived using a generalized Sérsic form, we find that asignificant bias is introduced if the de Vaucouleurs law is not a gooddescription of the actual light profile. Extended gas in Seyfert 2 galaxies: implications for the nuclear sourceWe use long-slit spectroscopic optical data to derive the properties ofthe extended emitting gas and the nuclear luminosity of a sample of 18Seyfert 2 galaxies. From the emission-line luminosities and ratios wederive the density, reddening and mass of the ionized gas as a functionof distance up to 2-4 kpc from the nucleus. Taking into account thegeometric dilution of the nuclear radiation, we derive the radialdistribution of covering factors and the minimum rate of ionizingphotons emitted by the nuclear source. This number is an order ofmagnitude larger than that obtained from the rate of ionizing photonsintercepted' by the gas and measured from the Hα luminosity. Acalibration is proposed to recover this number from the observedluminosity. The HeIIλ4686/Hβ line ratio was used tocalculate the slope of the ionizing spectral energy distribution (SED),which in combination with the number of ionizing photons allows thecalculation of the hard X-ray luminosities. These luminosities areconsistent with those derived from X-ray spectra in the eight cases forwhich such data are available and recover the intrinsic X-ray emissionin Compton-thick cases. Our method can thus provide reliable estimatesof the X-ray fluxes in Seyfert 2 galaxies for the cases where it is notreadily available. We also use the ionizing SED and luminosity topredict the infrared luminosity under the assumption that it isdominated by reprocessed radiation from a dusty torus, and find a goodagreement with the observed IRAS luminosities. Redshift-Distance Survey of Early-Type Galaxies: Spectroscopic DataWe present central velocity dispersions and Mg2 line indicesfor an all-sky sample of ~1178 elliptical and S0 galaxies, of which 984had no previous measures. This sample contains the largest set ofhomogeneous spectroscopic data for a uniform sample of ellipticalgalaxies in the nearby universe. These galaxies were observed as part ofthe ENEAR project, designed to study the peculiar motions and internalproperties of the local early-type galaxies. Using 523 repeatedobservations of 317 galaxies obtained during different runs, the dataare brought to a common zero point. These multiple observations, takenduring the many runs and different instrumental setups employed for thisproject, are used to derive statistical corrections to the data and arefound to be relatively small, typically <~5% of the velocitydispersion and 0.01 mag in the Mg2 line strength. Typicalerrors are about 8% in velocity dispersion and 0.01 mag inMg2, in good agreement with values published elsewhere. Early-type galaxy distances from the Fundamental Plane and surface brightness fluctuationsWe compare two of the most popular methods for deriving distances toearly-type galaxies: the Fundamental Plane (FP) and surface brightnessfluctuations (SBF). Distances for 170 galaxies are compared. A third setof distances is provided by predictions derived from the density fieldof the IRAS redshift survey. Overall there is good agreement between thedifferent distance indicators. We investigate systematic trends in theresiduals of the three sets of distance comparisons. First, we find thatseveral nearby, low-luminosity, mainly S0 galaxies have systematicallylow FP distances. Because these galaxies also have Mg2indices among the lowest in the sample, we conclude that they deviatefrom the FP partly because of recent star formation and consequently lowmass-to-light ratios; differences in their internal velocity structuresmay also play a role. Secondly, we find some evidence that theground-based I -band SBF survey distances (Tonry et al. 2001) begin toshow a bias near the survey limit at , which is expected for this sortof distance-limited survey, but had not previously been demonstrated.Although SBF and FP distances are affected in opposite senses by errorsin the Galactic extinction estimates, we find no evidence for biases inthe distances due to Galactic extinction. The tie between theCepheid-calibrated SBF distances (Mpc) and the far-field calibrated FPdistances (kms-1 ) yields a Hubble constant , while thecomparison between SBF and the IRAS -reconstructed distances yields(independent errors only). Thus there is a marginal inconsistency in thedirect and IRAS -reconstructed ties to the Hubble flow (this can be seenindependently of the SBF distances). Possible explanations includesystematic errors in the redshift survey completeness estimates or inthe FP aperture corrections, but at this point the best estimate of H0 may come from a simple average of the above two estimates.After revising the SBF distances downward by 2.8 per cent to be inagreement with the final set of Key Project Cepheid distances (Freedmanet al.), we conclude that from early-type galaxies, where the seconderror bar represents the total systematic uncertainty in the distancezero-point. We also discuss the fluctuation star count', recentlyintroduced by Tonry et al. (2001) as a less demanding alternative to forcalibrating SBF distances. The N -calibrated SBF method is akin to ahybrid SBF-FP distance indicator, and we find that the use of N actuallyimproves the SBF distances. Further study of the behaviour of thisquantity may provide an important new test for models of ellipticalgalaxy formation. A catalogue and analysis of X-ray luminosities of early-type galaxiesWe present a catalogue of X-ray luminosities for 401 early-typegalaxies, of which 136 are based on newly analysed ROSAT PSPC pointedobservations. The remaining luminosities are taken from the literatureand converted to a common energy band, spectral model and distancescale. Using this sample we fit the LX:LB relationfor early-type galaxies and find a best-fit slope for the catalogue of~2.2. We demonstrate the influence of group-dominant galaxies on the fitand present evidence that the relation is not well modelled by a singlepower-law fit. We also derive estimates of the contribution to galaxyX-ray luminosities from discrete-sources and conclude that they provideLdscr/LB~=29.5ergs-1LBsolar-1. Wecompare this result with luminosities from our catalogue. Lastly, weexamine the influence of environment on galaxy X-ray luminosity and onthe form of the LX:LB relation. We conclude thatalthough environment undoubtedly affects the X-ray properties ofindividual galaxies, particularly those in the centres of groups andclusters, it does not change the nature of whole populations. A synthesis of data from fundamental plane and surface brightness fluctuation surveysWe perform a series of comparisons between distance-independentphotometric and spectroscopic properties used in the surface brightnessfluctuation (SBF) and fundamental plane (FP) methods of early-typegalaxy distance estimation. The data are taken from two recent surveys:the SBF Survey of Galaxy Distances and the Streaming Motions of AbellClusters (SMAC) FP survey. We derive a relation between(V-I)0 colour and Mg2 index using nearly 200galaxies and discuss implications for Galactic extinction estimates andearly-type galaxy stellar populations. We find that the reddenings fromSchlegel et al. for galaxies with E(B-V)>~0.2mag appear to beoverestimated by 5-10 per cent, but we do not find significant evidencefor large-scale dipole errors in the extinction map. In comparison withstellar population models having solar elemental abundance ratios, thegalaxies in our sample are generally too blue at a given Mg2;we ascribe this to the well-known enhancement of the α-elements inluminous early-type galaxies. We confirm a tight relation betweenstellar velocity dispersion σ and the SBF fluctuation count'parameter N, which is a luminosity-weighted measure of the total numberof stars in a galaxy. The correlation between N and σ is eventighter than that between Mg2 and σ. Finally, we deriveFP photometric parameters for 280 galaxies from the SBF survey data set.Comparisons with external sources allow us to estimate the errors onthese parameters and derive the correction necessary to bring them on tothe SMAC system. The data are used in a forthcoming paper, whichcompares the distances derived from the FP and SBF methods. Stellar population gradients in normal and active galaxiesWe use high signal-to-noise ratio long-slit spectra in theλλ3500-7000-Å range of three early-type (Hubble typeS0) normal, two low-ionization nuclear emission region (LINER) and threeSeyfert 2 galaxies to make a comparative study of the variation of thestellar population properties as a function of distance from thenucleus. In order to characterize the stellar population and othercontinuum sources (e.g. featureless continuum) we have measuredequivalent widths (Ws) of six absorption features, continuum colours andtheir radial variations, and performed spectral population synthesis asa function of distance from the nucleus. The Ws for the normal galaxiesare strongest at the nucleus and decrease outwards. The two LINERgalaxies show a similar behaviour, but with the nuclear Ws in the blue(λ<4500Å)~10-20 per cent smaller. Both normal galaxiesand LINERs present a redder nucleus than their surroundings. The threeSeyfert 2 galaxies present the opposite behaviour, with most Ws in theblue being smaller at the nucleus, which is also bluer than outside. Bycombining the results of the present work with those of a previousstudy, we conclude that, in a sample of 12 Seyfert 2s of Hubble type S0,10 (~80 per cent) present nuclear Ws smaller than those of normalgalaxies, while at ~1kpc from the nucleus this number decreases to 4(~30 per cent). Sampling regions of ~100-200pc, we conclude that thenormal galaxies have nuclear stellar populations dominated by thecomponents with an age of 10Gyr and metallicity solar or above. Thecontribution of this component decreases, while that of 1Gyr increases,with increasing distance from the nucleus. The LINERs present a similarbehaviour but have a ~10-20 per cent larger contribution of the 1-Gyrcomponent at the nucleus. For the Seyfert 2 galaxies, there areadditional components: in the three cases studied here, there is asignificant contribution from a 100-Myr-old population at the nucleusplus featureless continuum in two cases and also of a 3-Myr-oldcomponent in Mrk463E. Outside the nucleus, the stellar population issimilar to that of normal galaxies in ESO138-G1, but it has an excess ofold metal-poor components in NGC7743 and of young components in Mrk463E,when compared with normal galaxies. The reddening of the continuum islowest in the normal galaxy nuclei [E(B-V)i~0.00] and highestin the Seyfert [E(B-V)i~0.20] nuclei. The SBF Survey of Galaxy Distances. IV. SBF Magnitudes, Colors, and DistancesWe report data for I-band surface brightness fluctuation (SBF)magnitudes, (V-I) colors, and distance moduli for 300 galaxies. Thesurvey contains E, S0, and early-type spiral galaxies in the proportionsof 49:42:9 and is essentially complete for E galaxies to Hubblevelocities of 2000 km s-1, with a substantial sampling of Egalaxies out to 4000 km s-1. The median error in distancemodulus is 0.22 mag. We also present two new results from the survey.(1) We compare the mean peculiar flow velocity (bulk flow) implied byour distances with predictions of typical cold dark matter transferfunctions as a function of scale, and we find very good agreement withcold, dark matter cosmologies if the transfer function scale parameterΓ and the power spectrum normalization σ8 arerelated by σ8Γ-0.5~2+/-0.5. Deriveddirectly from velocities, this result is independent of the distributionof galaxies or models for biasing. This modest bulk flow contradictsreports of large-scale, large-amplitude flows in the ~200 Mpc diametervolume surrounding our survey volume. (2) We present adistance-independent measure of absolute galaxy luminosity, N and showhow it correlates with galaxy properties such as color and velocitydispersion, demonstrating its utility for measuring galaxy distancesthrough large and unknown extinction. Observations in part from theMichigan-Dartmouth-MIT (MDM) Observatory. The gas content of peculiar galaxies: Counterrotators and polar ringsThis paper studies the global ISM content in a sample of 104 accretinggalaxies, including counterrotators and polar rings, which spans theentire Hubble sequence. The molecular, atomic and hot gas content ofaccretors is compared to a newly compiled sample of normal galaxies. Wepresent results of a small survey of the J=1-0 line of 12COwith the 15 m SEST telescope on a sample of 11 accretors (10counterrotators and 1 polar ring). The SEST sample is enlarged withpublished data from 48 galaxies, for which observational evidence ofcounterrotation in the gas and/or the stars has been found. Furthermore,the available data on a sample of 46 polar ring galaxies has beencompiled. In order to explore the existence of an evolutionary pathlinking the two families of accretors, the gas content ofcounterrotators and polar rings is compared. It was found that thenormalized content of cold gas (Mgas/LB) in polarrings is ~ 1 order of magnitude higher than the reference value derivedfor normal galaxies. The inferred gas masses are sufficient to stabilizepolar rings through self-gravity. In contrast, it was found that thecold gas content of counterrotators is close to normal for all galaxytypes. Although counterrotators and polar rings probably share a commonorigin, the gas masses estimated here confirm that light gas ringsaccreted by future counterrotators may have evolved faster than theself-gravitating structures of polar rings. In this scenario, thetransformation of atomic into molecular gas could be enhanced near thetransition region between the prograde and the retrograde disks,especially in late-type accretors characterized by a high content ofprimordial gas. This is tentatively confirmed in this work: the measuredH2/HI ratio seems larger in counterrotators than in normal orpolar ring galaxies for types later than S0s. Based on observationscollected at SEST telescope, European Southern Observatory, La Silla,Chile. Table 1 is only available in electronic form athttp://www.edpsciences.org The visible environment of galaxies with counterrotationIn this paper we present a statistical study of the environments of 49galaxies in which there is gas- or stellar-counterrotation. The numberof possible companions in the field (to apparent magnitude 22), theirsize and concentration were considered. All the statistical parameterswere analysed by means of Kolgomorov-Smirnov tests, using a controlsample of 43 galaxies without counterrotation. From our data, nosignificant differences between the counter-rotating and control samplesappear. This is different to Seyfert or radio-loud galaxies which lie inenvironments with a higher density of companions. On the contrary, if aweak tendency exists, for galaxies with gas counterrotation only, it isdiscovered in regions of space where the large scale density of galaxiesis smaller. Our results tend to disprove the hypothesis thatcounterrotation and polar rings derive from a recent interaction with asmall satellite or a galaxy of similar size. To a first approximation,they seem to follow the idea that all galaxies are born through a mergerprocess of smaller objects occurring very early in their life, or thatthey derive from a continuous, non-traumatic infall of gas that formedstars later. Whatever the special machinery is which producescounterrotation or polar rings instead of a co-planar, co-rotatingdistribution of gas and stars, it seems not to be connected to thepresent galaxy density of their environments. Nearby Optical Galaxies: Selection of the Sample and Identification of GroupsIn this paper we describe the Nearby Optical Galaxy (NOG) sample, whichis a complete, distance-limited (cz<=6000 km s-1) andmagnitude-limited (B<=14) sample of ~7000 optical galaxies. Thesample covers 2/3 (8.27 sr) of the sky (|b|>20deg) andappears to have a good completeness in redshift (97%). We select thesample on the basis of homogenized corrected total blue magnitudes inorder to minimize systematic effects in galaxy sampling. We identify thegroups in this sample by means of both the hierarchical and thepercolation `friends-of-friends'' methods. The resulting catalogs ofloose groups appear to be similar and are among the largest catalogs ofgroups currently available. Most of the NOG galaxies (~60%) are found tobe members of galaxy pairs (~580 pairs for a total of ~15% of objects)or groups with at least three members (~500 groups for a total of ~45%of objects). About 40% of galaxies are left ungrouped (field galaxies).We illustrate the main features of the NOG galaxy distribution. Comparedto previous optical and IRAS galaxy samples, the NOG provides a densersampling of the galaxy distribution in the nearby universe. Given itslarge sky coverage, the identification of groups, and its high-densitysampling, the NOG is suited to the analysis of the galaxy density fieldof the nearby universe, especially on small scales. A catalogue of Mg_2 indices of galaxies and globular clustersWe present a catalogue of published absorption-line Mg_2 indices ofgalaxies and globular clusters. The catalogue is maintained up-to-datein the HYPERCAT database. The measurements are listed together with thereferences to the articles where the data were published. A codeddescription of the observations is provided. The catalogue gathers 3541measurements for 1491 objects (galaxies or globular clusters) from 55datasets. Compiled raw data for 1060 galaxies are zero-point correctedand transformed to a homogeneous system. Tables 1, 3, and 4 areavailable in electronic form only at the CDS, Strasbourg, via anonymousftp 130.79.128.5. Table 2 is available both in text and electronic form. Total magnitude, radius, colour indices, colour gradients and photometric type of galaxiesWe present a catalogue of aperture photometry of galaxies, in UBVRI,assembled from three different origins: (i) an update of the catalogueof Buta et al. (1995) (ii) published photometric profiles and (iii)aperture photometry performed on CCD images. We explored different setsof growth curves to fit these data: (i) The Sersic law, (ii) The net ofgrowth curves used for the preparation of the RC3 and (iii) A linearinterpolation between the de Vaucouleurs (r(1/4) ) and exponential laws.Finally we adopted the latter solution. Fitting these growth curves, wederive (1) the total magnitude, (2) the effective radius, (3) the colourindices and (4) gradients and (5) the photometric type of 5169 galaxies.The photometric type is defined to statistically match the revisedmorphologic type and parametrizes the shape of the growth curve. It iscoded from -9, for very concentrated galaxies, to +10, for diffusegalaxies. Based in part on observations collected at the Haute-ProvenceObservatory. A catalogue of spatially resolved kinematics of galaxies: BibliographyWe present a catalogue of galaxies for which spatially resolved data ontheir internal kinematics have been published; there is no a priorirestriction regarding their morphological type. The catalogue lists thereferences to the articles where the data are published, as well as acoded description of these data: observed emission or absorption lines,velocity or velocity dispersion, radial profile or 2D field, positionangle. Tables 1, 2, and 3 are proposed in electronic form only, and areavailable from the CDS, via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (to130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html The SBF Survey of Galaxy Distances. I. Sample Selection, Photometric Calibration, and the Hubble ConstantWe describe a program of surface brightness fluctuation (SBF)measurements for determining galaxy distances. This paper presents thephotometric calibration of our sample and of SBF in general. Basing ourzero point on observations of Cepheid variable stars, we find that theabsolute SBF magnitude in the Kron-Cousins I band correlates well withthe mean (V - I)0 color of a galaxy according to M barI=(-1.74+/-0.07)+(4.5+/-0.25)[(V-I)0-1.15] for 1.0< (V - I) < 1.3. This agrees well with theoretical estimates fromstellar population models. Comparisons between SBF distances and avariety of other estimators, including Cepheid variable stars, theplanetary nebula luminosity function (PNLF), Tully-Fisher (TF), Dn-sigma , SN II, and SN Ia, demonstrate that the calibration of SBF isuniversally valid and that SBF error estimates are accurate. The zeropoint given by Cepheids, PNLF, TF (both calibrated using Cepheids), andSN II is in units of megaparsecs; the zero point given by TF (referencedto a distant frame), Dn- sigma , and SN Ia is in terms of a Hubbleexpansion velocity expressed in km s-1. Tying together these two zeropoints yields a Hubble constant of H0=81+/-6 {km} {s}^{-1}{Mpc}^{-1} . As part of this analysis, we present SBF distances to 12nearby groups of galaxies where Cepheids, SN II, and SN Ia have beenobserved. A survey of the stellar rotation in barred galaxiesWe present stellar velocity- and velocity dispersion- data for 13 SB0galaxies and one SBa, based on 61 spectra collected during a long-termproject developed at ESO. Our primary goal is to provide a databasewidest as possible for the study of the stellar velocity and velocitydispersion fields and for future modeling. New data are presented forsix galaxies, while for the remaining SB0s particular kinematicalaspects were already discussed in previous papers. We found thefollowing results: a) emission lines were detected in our spectra onlyfor 4 out of 14 galaxies considered. When present, they reveal a verypeculiar kinematics, including counter-rotation, warps or radial flows.b) A new case of gas counter-rotation has been found: NGC 7079. c) Thevelocity dispersion along the bar has a smoother trend than in the restof the galaxy. However there is, in general, a similarity between thevelocity dispersion trend (decreasing or flat) measured along the barand that outside it. d) The existence of a waving pattern in the stellarrotation curves of bars is confirmed for the galaxies of our sample seeninclined between 30 and 50 degrees. In addition to this effect, thepercentage of non-circular stellar motions present in the barredgalaxies studied may reach the 20%. Based on observations collected atthe European Southern Observatory, La Silla, Chile. Table 5 is onlyavailable in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html} } "Rotation curves" in self-consistent models of barred galaxies.We compare the "rotation curves" in self-consistent models of barredgalaxies with the ones of SB0's. The models are constructed withSchwarzschild's method. The models reproduce the wavy pattern in therotation curves observed in most SB0 galaxies. Depending on the localspatial mass fraction of retrograde orbits, the line-of-sight velocityis lowered or even negative. The local counter-rotation can be explainedby retrograde orbits, without needing to invoke particular projectioneffects. Another result is that the model minimizing the absolute valueof the total angular momentum is found to have a distribution functionsimilar to N-body bar one. The Absence of X-Ray Flashes from Nearby Galaxies and the Gamma-Ray Burst Distance ScaleIf typical gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have X-ray counterparts similar tothose detected by Ginga, then sensitive-focusing X-ray telescopes willbe able to detect GRBs 3 orders of magnitude fainter than the detectionlimit of the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE). If asubstantial portion of the burst population detected by BATSE originatesin a Galactic halo at distances greater than or equal to 150 kpc,existing X-ray telescopes will be able to detect GRBs in externalgalaxies out to a distance of at least 4.5 Mpc. As reported in Gotthelf,Hamilton, & Helfand, the imaging proportional counter (IPC) on boardthe Einstein Observatory detected 42 transient events with pointlikespatial characteristics and timescales of less than 10 s. These eventsare distributed isotropically on the sky; in particular, they are notconcentrated in the directions of nearby external galaxies. For halomodels of the BATSE bursts with radii of 150 kpc or greater, we wouldexpect to see several burst events in observations pointed toward nearbygalaxies. We see none. We therefore conclude that if the Gingadetections are representative of the population of GRBs sampled byBATSE, GRBs cannot originate in a Galactic halo population with limitingradii between 150 and 400 kpc. Inasmuch as halos with limiting radiioutside of this range have been excluded by the BATSE isotropymeasurements, our result indicates that all halo models are excluded.This result is independent of whether the flashes we do detect have anastronomical origin. Nuclei of Nearby Disk Galaxies.I.A Hubble Space Telescope Imaging SurveyWe present deconvolved images of the central regions of 20 nearby diskgalaxies, obtained with the original Planetary Camera of the HubbleSpace Telescope. The galaxies span a range in Hubble type from S0 to Sm.We have measured surface brightness profiles, and inverted these toestimate luminosity-density profiles. Surface brightness profiles in thecentral regions show a variety of forms, sometimes clearly affected byheavy dust obscuration. All galaxies in the sample earlier than type Scshow a continuing rise in surface brightness up to the resolution limitin the deconvolved images. Later types show shallower slopes, consistentwith exponential disks either continuing into the center or elseflattening in the central regions. These galaxies often, but not always,exhibit an unresolved nucleus which is likely a dense nuclear starcluster. Luminosity densities in the earlier-type galaxies reach orexceed 10^4^ L_sun_,V_ pc^-3^, and the nuclei of the later-type galaxiesoccasionally approach the same level. The dS0 galaxies in our samplehave central characteristics most closely resembling the late-typegalaxies. A comparison of the central luminosity and central surfacebrightness of our galaxies with elliptical galaxies and nucleated dwarfssupports an association of late-type disks systems and such dwarfs. The fundamental plane of early-type galaxies: stellar populations and mass-to-light ratio.We analyse the residuals to the fundamental plane (FP) of ellipticalgalaxies as a function of stellar-population indicators; these are basedon the line-strength parameter Mg_2_ and on UBVRI broad-band colors, andare partly derived from new observations. The effect of the stellarpopulations accounts for approximately half the observed variation ofthe mass-to-light ratio responsible for the FP tilt. The residual tiltcan be explained by the contribution of two additional effects: thedependence of the rotational support, and possibly that of the spatialstructure, on the luminosity. We conclude to a constancy of thedynamical-to-stellar mass ratio. This probably extends to globularclusters as well, but the dominant factor would be here the luminositydependence of the structure rather than that of the stellar population.This result also implies a constancy of the fraction of dark matter overall the scalelength covered by stellar systems. Our compilation ofinternal stellar kinematics of galaxies is appended. A Catalog of Stellar Velocity Dispersions. II. 1994 UpdateA catalog of central velocity dispersion measurements is presented,current through 1993 September. The catalog includes 2474 measurementsof 1563 galaxies. A standard set of 86 galaxies is defined, consistingof galaxies with at least three reliable, concordant measurements. It issuggested that future studies observe some of these standard galaxies sothat different studies can be normalized to a consistent system. Allmeasurements are reduced to a normalized system using these standards. The Catalog of Southern Ringed GalaxiesThe Catalog of Southern Ringed Galaxies (CSRG) is a comprehensivecompilation of diameters, axis ratios, relative bar position angles, andmorphologies of inner and outer rings, pseudorings, and lenses in 3692galaxies south of declination -17 deg. The purpose of the catalog is toevaluate the idea that these ring phenomena are related to orbitalresonances with a bar or oval in galaxy potentials. The catalog is basedon visual inspection of most of the 606 fields of the Science ResearchCouncil (SRC) IIIa-J southern sky survey, with the ESO-B, ESO-R, andPalomar Sky surveys used as auxiliaries when needed for overexposed coreregions. The catalog is most complete for SRC fields 1-303 (mostly southof declination -42 deg). In addition to ringed galaxies, a list of 859mostly nonringed galaxies intended for comparison with other catalogs isprovided. Other findings from the CSRG that are not based on statisticsare the identification of intrinsic bar/ring misalignment; bars whichunderfill inner rings; dimpling of R'1pseudorings; pointy, rectangular, or hexagonal inner or outer ringshapes; a peculiar polar-ring-related system; and other extreme examplesof spiral structure and ring morphology. Total and effective colors of 501 galaxies in the Cousins VRI photometric systemTotal color indices (V-R)T, (V-I)T and effectivecolor indices (V-R)e, (V-I)e in the Cousins VRIphotometric system are presented for 501 mostly normal galaxies. Thecolors are computed using a procedure outlined in the Third ReferenceCatalogue of Bright Galaxies (RC3) whereby standard color curvesapproximated by Laplace-Gauss integrals are fitted to observedphotoelectric multiaperture photometry. 11 sources of such photometrywere used for our analysis, each source being assigned an appropriateweight according to a rigorous analysis of residuals of the data fromthe best-fitting standard color curves. Together with the integrated B-Vand U-B colors provided in RC3, our analysis widens the range ofwavelength of homogeneously defined colors of normal galaxies of allHubble types. We present color-color and color-type relations that canbe modeled to understand the star formation history of galaxies. Integrated photoelectric magnitudes and color indices of bright galaxies in the Johnson UBV systemThe photoelectric total magnitudes and color indices published in theThird Reference Catalogue of Bright Galaxies (RC3) are based on ananalysis of approximately equals 26,000 B, 25,000 B-V, and 17,000 U-Bmultiaperture measurements available up to mid 1987 from nearly 350sources. This paper provides the full details of the analysis andestimates of internal and external errors in the parameters. Thederivation of the parameters is based on techniques described by theVaucouleurs & Corwin (1977) whereby photoelectric multiaperture dataare fitted by mean Hubble-type-dependent curves which describe theintegral of the B-band flux and the typical B-V and U-B integrated colorgradients. A sophisticated analysis of the residuals of thesemeasurements from the curves was made to allow for the random andsystematic errors that effect such data. The result is a homogeneous setof total magnitudes BTA total colors(B-V)T and (U-B)T, and effective colors(B-V)e and (U-B)e for more than 3000 brightgalaxies in RC3. Photometrically distinct nuclei in elliptical and early-type disks galaxies.Not Available
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