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2. OBSERVATIONS

a) Galaxies in the Near-Infrared Atlas

Fifty-four galaxies with Hubble types Sa through Sd are presented in this atlas. They were selected to have a small inclination to the line of sight, which allows a favorable view of the morphology, and a large angular size, which provides finer resolution of the spiral structure. Most galaxies have inclinations less than 55° and maximum dimensions in excess of 2'.

Each of the galaxies in this atlas were classified according to whether they exhibit more of the characteristics of a grand design galaxy or of a flocculent galaxy. This simplistic division was made in order to emphasize the dominant features of the two types. Criteria for classification as a grand design galaxy included the presence of smooth, continuous long arms and a two-armed symmetry. The appearance of short, broken-up arms defined the flocculent members. This subjective classification is suitable because all of the plates have similar exposure times and resolutions. The more notable intermediate cases in this atlas include NGC 925, 1784, 2715, 2903, 3486, 3675, 5033 and 6643.

The 37 grand design galaxies in this atlas are listed in Table 1 and are shown in Figures 1 through 13 (Plates 1 - 13); the 17 flocculent spiral galaxies are listed in Table 2 and displayed in Figures 14 through 19 (Plates 14 - 19). Column (2) of each table lists the classifications of the galaxies (de Vaucouleurs, de Vaucouleurs, and Corwin 1976), and column (3) gives the scale of the photographs in Figures 1 through 19, in arc minutes per vertical length of each print.

Table 1. CATALOG OF GRAND DESIGN SPIRAL GALAXIES

Print Size
(arc min per
Name Classification vertical length of photo)

NGC 3031 (=M81) SA(s)ab 23.2
NGC 5194 (=M51) SA(s)bcp 13.4
NGC 628 (=M74) SA(s)c 9.7
NGC 4254 (=M99) SA(s)c 7.5
NGC 598 (=M33) SA(s)cd 51.1
NGC 3504 RSAB(s)ab 8.0
NGC 157 SAB(rs)bc 6.9
NGC 2903 SAB(rs)bc 12.5
NGC 3344 RSAB(r)bc 9.8
NGC 4321 (=M100) SAB(s)bc 9.5
NGC 5248 SAB(rs)bc 7.7
NGC 6384 SAB(r)bc 5.9
NGC 6951 SAB(rs)bc 5.9
NGC 7753 SAB(rs)bc 5.7
NGC 309 SAB(r)c 5.8
NGC 1232 SAB(rs)c 7.5
NGC 1637 SAB(rs)c 4.8
NGC 2715 SAB(rs)c 8.0
NGC 3486 SAB(r)c 8.0
NGC 6181 SAB(rs)c 2.8
NGC 5457 (=M101) SAB(rs)cd 27.5
NGC 6946 SAB(rs)cd 14.2
NGC 7424 SAB(rs)cd 12.4
IC 342 SAB(rs)cd 26.1
NGC 925. SAB(s)d 10.4
NGC 4314 SB(rs)a 4.6
NGC 4274 RSB(r)ab 4.6
NGC 1097 SB(s)b 11.4
NGC 5383 SB(rs)b:p 22.5
NGC 1300 SB(rs)bc 6.9
NGC 3992 SB(rs)bc 7.8
NGC 1832 SB(r)bc 5.1
NGC 1073 SB(rs)c 7.5
NGC 2835 SB(rs)c 10.9
NGC 3359 SB(rs)c 9.9
NGC 7479 SB(s)c 5.7
NGC 3319 SB(rs)cd 11.2

Table 2. CATALOG OF FLOCCULENT SPIRAL GALAXIES

Print Size
(arc min per
Name Classification vertical length of photo)

NGC 7217 RSA(rs)ab 5.3
NGC 488 SA(r)b 7.3
NGC 2841 SA(r)b: 10.1
NGC 3675 SA(s)b 8.4
NGC 5055 SA(rs)bc 9.8
NGC 4298 SA(rs)c 7.5
NGC 4414 SA(rs)c? 5.0
NGC 5033 SA(s)c 12.0
NGC 6643 SA(rs)c 5.3
NGC 6015 SA(s)cd 5.3
NGC 7793 SA(s)dm 9.7
NGC 5005 SAB(rs)bc 8.1
NGC 253 SAB(s)c 50.2
NGC 1961 SAB(rs)c 6.0
NGC 2403 SAB(s)cd 10.2
NGC 1784 SB(r)c 6.9
NGC 2500 SB(rs)d 8.9

The galaxies are listed in the tables and arranged in the figures in order of increasing Hubble type, from Sa through Sd, within the three main de Vaucouleurs divisions SA, SAB, and SB. The blue and near-infrared photographs have been reproduced on the same scale and printed side by side for each galaxy in order to facilitate comparison of the morphologies in the two passbands.

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