CCD surface photometry of elliptical galaxies - I. Observations, reduction and results

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Abstract
A programme of CCD surface photometry of elliptical galaxies is described. A sample of 49 nearby early-type galaxies has been observed in the B and R pass bands, and the isophotes fitted by ellipses. The cos (4θ) component of the isophotes has also been measured to investigate the degree to which the isophotes may be boxy or contain an edge-on disc component. Comparison with other observers shows that the surface brightness profiles and geometrical profiles are accurate to a few per cent when sky subtraction and seeing effects are not important. A future paper will use these data to investigate some important aspects of elliptical galaxy structure and dynamics.

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