Photographic and CCD surface photometry of the standard elliptical galaxy NGC 3379

Abstract

We present a detailed photometric mapping of the standard elliptical galaxy NGC 3379, based on photographic and CCD images in B light. Our study covers the range from μ B = 18 mag arcsec -2 μ B ≃29, with an accuracy that is better than ± 0.1 mag at all μ B ≳ 26. We also provide the flattening and orientation (P.A.) profiles of the galaxy isophotes out to a = 7′.5 (μ B = 27.8). Comparison with the standard photometry by de Vaucouleurs and Capaccioli shows excellent agreement, despite the noticeable differences in the observational material. The present data are used in another paper to show that NGC 3379 contains a hidden exponential disk and to measure the degree of intrinsic triaxiality of the galaxy bulge.