CCD surface photometry of galaxies with dynamical data. I - NGC 3379, M87, and NGC 1052

Abstract

U, B, and R surface photometry of M87 and NGC 1052 and B and R surface photometry of NGC 3379 are presented, and the reduction and analysis procedures are described along with the sample of galaxies, the CCD detector, and the observational techniques. The data analysis program is discussed. Excellent agreement is achieved between the data and the most precise recent measurements. Comparison of the luminosity and ellipticity profiles suggests that changes in the slope of the luminosity profile are related to changes in the ellipticity profiles for NGC 3379 and NGC 1052. In the case of NGC 3379, the form of the rotation curve may also be related to changes in the ellipticity and luminosity gradients. All three galaxies exhibit color gradients over the radius range of the data which are consistent with metallicity gradients in models of a single-age stellar population.