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The optical and near-infrared colors of galaxies, 1: The photometric dataWe present optical and near-infrared photometry and spectroscopic redshifts of a well defined sample of 171 field galaxies selected from three high galactic latitude fields. This data set forms the basis for subsequent studies to characterize the trends, dispersion, and evolution of rest-frame colors and image structure. A subset of 143 galaxies constitutes a magnitude-limited sample to B approx. 19.9-20.75 (depending on field), with a median redshift of 0.14, and a maximum redshift of 0.54. This subset is statistically representative in its sampling of the apparent color distribution of galaxies. Thirty six galaxies were selected to have the reddest red-optical colors in two redshift intervals between 0.2 less than z less than 0.3. Photometric passbands are similar to U, B, V, I, and K, and sample galaxy spectral energy distributions between 0.37 and 2.2 micrometers in the observed frame, or down to 0.26 micrometers in the rest frame for the most distant galaxies. B and K images of the entire sample are assembled to form the first optical and near-infrared atlas of a statistically-representative sample of field galaxies. We discuss techniques for faint field-galaxy photometry, including a working definition of a total magnitude, and a method for matching magnitudes in different passbands and different seeing conditions to ensure reliable, integrated colors. Photographic saturation, which substantially affects the brightest 12% of our sample in the optical bands, is corrected with a model employing measured plate-density distributions for each galaxy, calibrated via similar measurements for stars as a function of known saturation level. Both the relative and absolute calibration of our photometry are demonstrated.
Document ID
19950033235
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Bershady, Matthew A.
(Univ. of Chicago, Chicago, IL United States)
Hereld, Mark
(Univ. of Chicago, Chicago, IL United States)
Kron, Richard G.
(Fermi National Accelerator Lab. Batavia, IL, United States)
Koo, David C.
(Univ. of California, Santa Cruz, CA United States)
Munn, Jeffrey A.
(Univ. of Chicago, Williams Bay, WI United States)
Majewski, Steven R.
(Carnegie Inst. of Washington, Pasadena, CA United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: The Astronomical Journal
Volume: 108
Issue: 3
ISSN: 0004-6256
Subject Category
Astronomy
Accession Number
95A64834
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AST-87-05517
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGT-50677
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF DPP-89-20223
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AST-88-14251
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS5-26555
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AST-88-58203
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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