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

Abstract

A program of CCD surface photometry of elliptical galaxies is described.A sample of 49 nearby early-type galaxies has been observed in the B andR passbands, and the isophotes fitted by ellipses. The cos(4 theta)components of the isophotes has also been measured to investigate thedegree to which the isophotes may be boxy or contain an edge-on diskcomponent. Comparison with other observers shows that thesurface-brightness profiles and geometrical profiles are accurate to afew percent when sky substraction and seeing effects are not important.