Near-infrared observations of galaxies in Pisces-Perseus^*,**

I. -band surface photometry of 174 spirals

¹ Dipartimento di Astronomia e Scienza dello Spazio, Università di Firenze, Largo E. Fermi 5, I–50125 Firenze, Italy
² Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Largo E. Fermi 5, I–50125 Firenze, Italy
³ STECF Space Telescope Science Inst., 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218, U.S.A.
⁴ Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, Via E. Bianchi 46, I–22055 Merate (CO), Italy
⁵ Dipartimento di Fisica, Sez. Astrofisica, Università di Milano, Via Celoria 16, I–20133 Milano, Italy
⁶ C.A.I.S.M.I C.N.R., Largo E. Fermi 5, I–50125 Firenze, Italy
⁷ Max-Planck-Inst. für Kernphysik, Bereich Astrophysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, Postfach 10 39 80, D–69029 Heidelberg, Germany
⁸ Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, Via Brera 28, I–20121 Milano, Italy

Received: 30 November 1998
Accepted: 8 March 1999

Abstract

We present near–infrared, H–band (1.65 μm), surface photometry of 174 spiral galaxies in the area of the Pisces–Perseus supercluster. The images, acquired with the ARNICA camera mounted on various telescopes, are used to derive radial profiles of surface brightness, ellipticities, and position angles, together with global parameters such as H-band magnitudes and diameters. The mean relation between H-band isophotal diameter D_21.5 and the B-band D₂₅ implies a color of the outer disk bluer than 3.5; moreover, depends on (global) color and absolute luminosity. The correlations among the various photometric parameters suggest a ratio between isophotal radius and disk scale length of ~3.5 and a mean disk central brightness -mag arcsec^-2. We confirm the trend of the concentration index C₃₁ with absolute luminosity and, to a lesser degree, with morphological type. We also assess the influence of non- axi sym me tric struc tures on the radial profiles and on the derived parameters.